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A HAIRDRESSER'S EXPERIEN 



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IN 



HIGH LIFE 



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CINCINNATI: 

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR. 

1859. 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, iu the year 1859, by 

ELIZA POTTER, 

Iu the Clerk's Office of ihe District Court of the United States, for 
the Southern District of Ohio. 



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THE AUTHOR'S APPEAL. 



It may perhaps be considered presumptive for one 
in my humble sphere of life to think of writing a 
book ; but, influenced by the earnest persuasions of 
many ladies and gentlemen, I have at last concluded 
that I might just as well note down a few of my ex- 
periences for their amusement as not. 

The unlettered of all ages have numbered in their 
ranks many with sufficient observation and inteUi- 
gence to have written more entertaining books than 
many wliich have emanated from cultivated pens, had 
they only possessed the courage to tell what they 
knew in simple, plain language — could they only 
remember that the mouths of babes and sucklings 
have, in other days, perfected the praise of the 
mightiest. Those days may come again. 

The physician writes his diary, and doubtless his 
means of discovering the hidden mysteries of life 
are great. The clergyman, whose calling inspires 
the deepest confidence, and into whose ear the tales 
of sorrow are unreservedly breathed, sends forth his 
diary to an eager world, and other innumerable 
chroniclers of fireside life have existed ; but the hair- 



IV THE AUTHOR 8 APPEAL. 

dresser will yield rivalship to none in this regard. 
If domestic bitterness and joy, and all the heart- 
emotions that exist, cannot be discovered by her, 
she defies all the rest of the world to find them out. 
My avocation calls me into the upper classes of 
society almost exclusively ; and there reign as many 
elements of misery as the world can produce. No 
one need go into alleys to hunt up wretchedness ; 
they can find it in perfection among the rich and 
fashionable of every land and nation. Oh ! if tes- 
selated hearths and satin tapestries could speak, 
what tales of agony they might tell ! If the marble 
statues that adorn the riches of lordly mansions 
could open their mouths, how would they outrival 
all poetry and romance in the incidents they could 
proclaim ! and could the nuptial couch, with its 
silken hangings, unfold its memories, could we bear 
to listen to its disclosures ? But nowhere do hearts 
betray themselves more unguardedly than in the 
private boudoir, where the hair-dresser's mission 
makes her a daily attendant. Why, then, should 
not the hair-dresser write, as well as the physician 
and clergyman ? She will tell her story in simpler 
language ; but it will be none the less truthful, none 
the less strange. 



A HAIR-DRESSER'S EXPERIENCE 



IN HIGH LIFE. 



CHAPTER I. 

MY DEBUT. 



I HAVE promised to give yon a sketch of my experi- 
ences in those walks of life where fate has led me, up 
to the present time. You will find them somewhat 
rambling and desultory ; but I beg you will overlook 
much that you will find a little Tiarum scarum^ con- 
sidering the humble condition of your narrator, 

I was brought up in New York, and went out, at 
an early age, to earn my living, in the service of peo- 
ple of t07i. For some years, this occupation was 
agreeable to me; but at length I wearied of it, and 
being at liberty to choose my own course, I determined 
to travel, and to gratify my long-cherished desire to see 
the world — and especially the Western world: so I 
started as soon as possible toward the setting sun. At 
Bufi'alo, however, my journey was suddenly arrested 
by a sort of ceremony called matrimony^ whicli 1 en- 
tered into very naturally, and became quieted down 



12 A hair-dresser's experience 

under it for a length of time, just as naturally. I 
have seen other persons do the same thing, and so, I 
suppose, I need not be ashamed to own having com- 
mitted a weakness, which has, from the beginning of 
time, numbered the most respectable of the eartli 
among its victims. But it matters not how or why, 
after a season of quiet, or unquiet, just as you please 
to call it, the desire for roving again took possession 
of me ; and I determined to visit Canada, before going 
to Ohio. I therefore proceeded to Queenstown, and 
there took passage on a steamer for Toronto. 

I was alone in the world — self-exiled from home 
and friends, to be sure — but it was not until we were 
out some distance upon the rolling waters of the lake, 
that I realized my isolated condition. I sat upon the 
deck, surrounded by people ; but being a stranger 
among strangers, I had no claim upon the notice of 
any one ; and I gazed out, with somewhat saddened 
feelings, upon the waste of waters before me. My na- 
ture is sympathetic, however ; and as confusion reigned 
everywhere upon the boat, 1 soon grew nervous with 
excitement. Among the passengers was the Governor- 
General of Canada, with his family and suite, beside 
many distinguished persons of the Province. They 
observed my embarrassed manner, and spoke kindly 
to me ; for which I was extremely grateful, and did 
not fail to express to them my thanks. But at dinner, 
these kind people really made me feel uncomfortable : 
my situation was a novel one; I had never before been 
associated with those who considered themselves my 
superiors — at table ; but upon this occasion, I was in- 
vited to sit and take my meal witli those who, had 
they been educated in my own country, would have 



IN HIGH LIFE. 13 

indignantly repudiated any such arrangement : and it 
was not until after repeated solicitations from them, 
that I consented to take my seat. The whole party 
was merry and pleasant, and I soon felt at my ease, 
and not at all like an intruder. Well-bred people per- 
fectly understand the art of making all comfortable 
around them, no matter what their color or condition 
may be. I have observed that parvenu ladies and 
gentlemen know nothing whatever of this gentle art: 
born and brought up in coarse atmospheres, refined 
conduct should never be expected of the'rn. Society 
is made up of varieties ; but it is easy for the hum- 
blest servant to distinguish the well-born and highly- 
bred lady, under the plai7icst garb, from the parvenu 
woman, whose sudden good luck and well-filled purse 
dresses her in lace, seats her in a carriage, and places 
her in circles where she is more endured than courted. 

The table was loaded with every luxury ; but the 
excitement occasioned by the novelty of my position 
deprived me of appetite. I was entirely unfamiliar 
with table etiquette, and felt conscious of looking 
awkward and embarrassed ; but the kind ladies and 
gentlemen, understanding the nature of my discom- 
fort, spared no pains to put me at my ease. 

On sped the vessel, with its precious freight of hu- 
man life, each heart beating quicker as the distance 
from land, and home, and friends was shortened by 
the revolutions of the mighty wheels. How much of 
the happiness of this world is comprised in such an- 
ticipated meetings! and how miserable they must be 
who know nothing of such joys as these ! * 

Before we touched the shores of Toronto I felt per- 
fectly at home among my new-found friends. They 



14 A hair-dressee's experience 

had descended from their high position to be civil and 
agreeable to the humble stranger, and from my heart 
I shall hless and pray for them to the end of my days. 
Their gentle treatment will never be forgotten, and I 
hope the eyes of these dear people may some day 
meet this poor tribute to their kindness and worth. 

At Toronto I was welcomed by my own relatives 
and their numerous friends and acquaintances, and 
received many invitations to balls, parties and social 
gatherings. After mingling in these gay assemblies 
for some weeks, I felt strongly inclined to identify my- 
self with the English soil. Still I resisted the im- 
pulse. Thinking it was time to leave pleasure for 
something more important, I again returned to Buf- 
falo, where there was no attraction to detain me for 
even a moment. As my husband had already pre- 
ceded me to the West, I therefore hastened to Pitts- 
burg by stage route, which was not without its inci- 
dents. Those who have traveled in those primitive 
days, before the invention of railroads, will readily re- 
cognize the truth of many discomforts which I might 
here relate, but for the fear of fatiguing the indulgent 
reader, w^ho is about to follow my footsteps over land, 
ocean and prairie. We broke down innumerable 
times in the dismal recesses of the forests, were shel- 
tered and fed by the kind Samaritans who inhabited 
the wilderness, where snow and ice-clothed field and 
dell, and where Winter seemed too firmly established 
ever again to yield to Spring's soft influences. 

The day was dark and dreary upon our arrival at 
Pittsburg, Smoke hung like a pall over town and 
country, and but for the sociability and hospitality that 
reigns within doors, Pittsburg would be the gloomiest 



IN HIGH LIFE. 15 

of places. I could dwell for pages upon this theme; 
but the steam is up, I am seated upon the deck of the 
" David Marshall," and to the cloud-enveloped city 
and its heart-lighted homes I must bid farewell, and 
wend my way down the beautiful Ohio. Lovely river! 
how I turn to thee, as to an old, pleasant friend, upon 
whose bosom I have laughed and wept, thinking my 
joys and sorrows over and over again. Our boat pro- 
ceeded slowly, in consequence of the floating ice, and 
at Wheeling we were obliged to cast anchor for days 
and days. Here, though the passengers resorted to 
many means for beguiling the hours, the time dragged, 
and the morning of our departure was one of joy to 
all on board. The weather had softened, and earth 
and sky were clad with a serenity I can not describe. 
The ice floated thinly upon the waters, and the boat- 
men sang cheerily as we glided over the moonlit 
and sunlit waves. Buoyant and happy were the 
hearts of all upon the deck and in the cabin. The 
outward and the homeward-bound seemed equally ex- 
cited by some bright hope. The number of our pas- 
sengers had increased. Among the new ones was a 
negro trader^ whose name was W. ; he had with him 
a number of unfortunate beings in chains and shackles. 
They were destined for the Southern market^ and were 
all conlined, with the exception of one — a good-look- 
ing, well-formed girl, for whom he had obtained a 
cahin passage^ and who was treated better than her 
unfortunate companions. Why ? Because the trader 
doomed her to ignominy. He knew he would bo paid 
for liis trouble and expense. She had beauty enough 
to arouse the lase hist of some Southern buyer. I ob- 
jected to sit at table with her — not through any feel- 



16 A hair-dresser's experience 

ing of superiority on my part toward the girl, but I 
thought if she came to that table her companions on 
the lower deck ought to have the same privilege — and 
it grieved me to contemplate the cause of the distinc- 
tion shown between those who had been equally 
bought, and were alike to be sold. My objection 
caused some disturbance, and considerable discussion 
arose in regard to it among the passengers, Mr. W. 
was highly indignant that / should have questioned 
his right to treat his goods and cliattles as he pleased. 
Those of the passengers who were opposed to the sys- 
tem came to my aid, and Mr. W., not possessing ar- 
guments sufficient to silence me, thought his best plan 
was to brow-beat me, and called me a meddler, an 
abolitionist, and many other such names. Not 
noticing these epithets, 1 pursued my way untroubled 
by anything he could say. 

On my arrival in Cincinnati, I obtained a situation as 
lady's maid, in the family of Mr. W.,whose wife was the 
beautiful and accomplished daughter of Major O,, of 
Kentucky, they were then stopping, temporarily, at the 
"Broadway Hotel," About a week after I had been with 
them, I had the pleasure of witnessing the distress of 
a Louisville lady, consequent upon the sudden disap- 
pearance of a beautiful slave girl, whom she had 
brought with her for a few day's stay in the Queen 
City. This girl was fairer and inore lovely than her 
mistress, and despising the low servitude which op- 
pressed her, it was scarcely to be wondered at, that, 
finding herself on free soil, she should seize the first 
opportunity to escape from it. She was sent out one 
morning to make purchases, and never returned, but 
found a happy home, 1 trust, on English soil. The 



IN HIGH LIFE. 17 

lady related to me her loss and grivances, but, as I 
could not recognize the right of one human heing to 
own another^ I did not sympathize with her in the 
least. 

Shortly after this, Mrs. W. visited Louisville, and I 
accompanied her as child's nurse. We stopped at 
the Louisville Hotel, where it happened that the 
brother of the missing slave, of whom I have just 
spoken, was employed as a servant. This brother the 
lady had publicly threatened to sell unless the girl 
should produce herself. I saw him — pitied him, and 
had some conversation with him, during which he told 
me a sad story of suffering, and asked me, in imploring 
accents, if I knew of a spot on this wide earth, where 
he could be free? 1 frankly told him all I knew of 
Canada. I informed him how he could reach there ; 
and yet I trembled for his youth and inexperi- 
ence in a strange country, and a doubt rose in my 
mind, as to whether I had been his friend, or his 
enemy, in thus directing his footsteps to a new world 
and a new home. Future accounts of him, however, 
set my heart at rest upon this point, and on my knees I 
thanked God that I had been the humble means of un- 
loosing the shackles of one upright and manly soul. 
His owners pursued him, but he was beyond their 
reach, and I was pounced upon by them, after having 
returned to Cincinnati, and arrested as accessory to the 
deed. When the officers came for me, 1 was alone 
with the baby, and refused accompanying them until 
Mrs. W.'s return, to which determination they reluct- 
antly assented. I also refused riding to the place of 
justice in a carriage which they had provided for the 
purpose, which very much disconcerted plans on foot 



18 A haib-deesser's experience 

in my behalf, as they intended, doubtless, conveying 
me to Kentucky, where I should, probably, in the ex- 
citement of the moment, have been severely handled. 
At the court of justice, I was questioned, with great 
minuteness, as to my complicity in this affair, which 
was now creating a wonderful stir in the sister cities. 
I did not deny giving the boy all the information I 
possessed upon the subject, and for this, I was sen- 
tenced to be tried before the bar of my country. Be- 
fore the bar of God, I know well how such a trial 
would terminate, but in presence of human justice, 
I could not so easily decide the matter. At the expi- 
ration of three days, during which time I was under 
bail, given by Mr. W., I was delivered over to Ken- 
tuckians, notwithstanding the opinions to the con- 
trary of Judges Spencer, Starr, Storer, and other dis- 
tinguished lawyers. Thousands of persons followed 
me to the ferry-boat, which was to convey me across 
the Ohio River — some in sorrow and some in joy ; all 
believing that I had made my final exit from Cincinnati 
— which, however, as the reader will see, was a mistake. 

It is many years since those dark events transpired, 
and yet, under my own vine and fig tree, in the very 
heart of that same populous city, am I now, endeavor- 
ing to recall to myself, and those who may honor me 
with a perusal, some few of the strange incidents of 
my life. " 

I was placed in the jail of Newport, where I re- 
mained three days, without experiencing any very 
great discomfort, owing to the kind and sympathizing 
attentions of the jailor, whom I have always thanked, 
from my inmost heart, for a jail is not a place to bo 
coveted under the best of circumstances. I was then 



IN IllOri LIFE. 19 

removed to Louisville, where 1 was for three months 
a prisoner, and this for doinoj what I conscientiously 
felt to be a Christian deed. Here every persuasion 
was resorted to, to induce me to confess having com- 
mitted a wrong. Then I was threatened, and told 
that I should be tried with Jones and Leavitt, tlie 
murderers ; but, like Job, I adhered to my integrity 
to the last, preferring to be tried with, and die with 
(if necessary), those who had killed the body, rather 
than shrink from owning that I had boldly aided in 
rescuing the soul of an oppressed fellow-being, I said 
in reply to those who examined me, that I recognized 
no crime in what I had done — meant none. My 
speech to the court resulted in my acquittal, and I was 
permitted to go free ever afterward, in both free and 
slave states. 

After these things, I sojourned awhile in Madison, 
Indiana, in the family of Mr. W., whose wife was the 
daughter of Mr. L,, of Baltimore, well known from 
his interest in the colonization cause. But Madison 
was too quiet a town for me, and I returned to the 
Queen City, where I was fortunate enough to obtain a 
situation in the family of Mr. N. L., as nurse to a fa- 
vorite grandchild, and son of Mrs. A. This dear lady 
I can not thank too much for her kind advice on many 
a serious occasion. I had a fiery temper, and she 
taught me to control it to a degree astonishing even to 
myself. 

Of my little charge, I was very fond ; and am as 
proud now of the grown young gentleman, whose little 
feet I trained to walking, and whose lips I taught to 
lisp many a childish sentence. 

In this family, the cook and myself fell to open war. 



20 A HAIR-DEESSER S EXPERIENCE 

and I left. After this I obtained a situation in the 
family of Mr. G., our recent member of Congress ; 
and the little baby girl I nursed thei-'e^ is now in the 
full blush of early womanhood, whom none can behold 
but with admiration and respect ; and when I see her 
floating along, with the dignity, grace, and ease of a 
sylph, upon the street and in the drawing-rooms, I 
can scarcely realize that it was I who taught her, in 
her hdbyhood^ to walk. But, as I had rather a vaga- 
bond disposition, and loved change, I, soon after this, 
left the service of this pleasant family, and engaged 
again as child nurse to a sister of this lady, who was 
soon to embark with her husband and fomily for Eu- 
rope — he having been partially promised a foreign 
APPOINTMENT by General Harrison, who had just en- 
tered upon his office. ThQ paternals on both sides of 
my new employers were judges, in high position, and 
possessed much public influence. 

Having accomplished the ceremony of obtaining 
passports in Washington City, we sailed from New 
York in February on the " Louis Fiiillippe," and had 
a rough passage of twenty -four days across the ocean. 
A storm, which lasted forty-eight hours, drove us into 
the Bay of Biscay. The passengers were all fearfully 
alarmed, and gathered themselves together in groups 
in the cabin to die together, if such must be their fate. 
But our vessel weathered the gale, while many otluM-.s 
sank beneath it, to be heard from no more till the sea 
shall give up its dead. 

On the twenty-tburth day " Land ho! " was shouted 
from the mast-head, and in a few hours more our feet 
touched the soil of France. 

It was night when we arrived in Paris, where all 



IN HIGH LIFE. 21 

looked gay, brilliant and strange. At the gates of 
the city our baggage was examined, according to cus- 
tom, and we proceeded to the Maurice Hotel, the ren- 
dezvous of nobility and fashionable travelers. We 
were all glad to take an early sleep; but morning 
usually opens the eyes of the most fatigued sleepers, 
and a natural desire to take a peep at the strange 
world I had landed in, roused me earlier than usual 
from my slumbers. 

I dressed myself and my little responsibility in 
donble-quick time, and we sauntered forth into the 
area of the hotel to see how things looked. Order 
prevailed everywhere. All the world seemed to be 
doing just what it ought to do, and to have just 
enough time for its duties, and no more. We did not 
venture into the streets far, but nevertheless returned 
laden with news of the little which had already en- 
gaged our attention. 

The next day the American Minister to France 
called with his daughters upon my lady and gentle- 
man. The young ladies were perfectly French in 
manner and accent^ very agreeable, and altogether 
pleasing. In a few days more, through the polite in- 
vitation of General Cass, we found ourselves inmates 
of his own delightful residence, where, the servants 
being all French, it was with difficulty I could make 
myself at home among them. Gradually, however, 
I acquired a sufficient knowledge of the language to 
understand what was going on around me, and to 
make myself understood. They were very kind to 
me, and I accompanied them to church on Sabbath 
mornings, where, instead of pews, chairs are made 
use of, for which each occupant pays a few sous. The 



22 A hair-dresser's experience 

Sabbath evening church in France is generally a hall^ 
which startled me a little at first ; but it is astonishing 
how naturally we fall into the tastes and customs of 
people with whom we are for the time associated. I 
was miserable at first about it, and very much con- 
science-stricken at this innovation upon my usual 
American habits ; but finally, / regret to say, I be- 
came as French as the rest of them, and dancing on 
the Sabbath evening, after the day had been spent in 
strict observance of religious duty, no longer offended 
my notions of propriety. But the older I grow, and 
the more I see the necessity of devoting one entire 
day in the seven to the service of God, the more I 
wonder that I could ever have been so misguided. 

Day after day my little charge and I wandered up 
and down the Champs Elysees and in the Tuilleries 
gardens, admiring French sights and delighted with 
foreign objects. The shop windows upon the Boule- 
vards often claimed our attention, and hour after 
hour, upon our return home, would we rehearse the 
events of our promenades. 

Our visit to the hospitable home of General Cass 
having expired, my lady and gentleman took private 
apartments, where we remained a short time, acquir- 
ing every day more knowledge of the French lan- 
guage, and becoming hourly more accustomed to 
French observances ; but at length Mr. , wish- 
ing to have all in fitting style upon the arrival of his 
appointinent, took a private house, and set up his 
carriage, horses and servants in livery. The carriage 
my little responsibility and myself usually had the ad- 
vantage of while my lady was making her toilette for 
visiting or the promenade, and everything went on 



IN HIGH LIFE. 23 

charmingly until news arrived that Mr. would 

not receive his anticipated appointment^ it having 
heen given to another. This was a damper to iis all, 
inasmuch as the vexation of his disappointment 
did not fail to evince itself in the bearing of my 
gentleman, upon every occasion and to every per- 
son. 

About this time the baptism of the Count of Paris 
took place, a ceremony I determined to witness., 
though my gentleman, on leaving home with my lady 
to be present at it, peremptorily ordered me not to 
absent myself from the premises during his absence ; 
but through the kindness of an English lady, living 
in adjacent appartments, who had sprained her ancle, 
and could net go, I was provided with tickets which 
secured to myself and little responsibility a window 
commanding a fine view of the entire procession and 
paraphernalia of the occasion. Such a scene of 
splendor I never expected to see, and suppose I never 
shall witness anything so grand again. On reaching 
home I found my lady quite pleased that I and the child 
had enjoyed the scene, but her husband was boiling 
over with wrathful emotions at my disobedience. He 
never seemed to recognize that /had any right to amuse 
myself or to be happy upon any occasion ; but for this 
I invariably cared precious little, though I never per- 
mitted myself to behave toward him as perhaps he de- 
served, in consequence of the high regard and esteem 
I bore my lady, who possessed a noble, unselfish dispo- 
sition, and always treated me with the greatest kindness. 

Subsequent to this event we removed to a house in 
Versailles, overlooking the gardens of the Frianon 
Palace, which was formerly occupied by a favorite 
2 



24 A hair-dkessek's experience 

mistress of Louis Qaatorze. To these gardens my 
lady had free access at all times. 

It would be impossible for my feeble pen to de- 
scribe the beauty of the environs of the Palaces of Ver- 
sailles. The gravel walks, innumerable fountains, 
jct-d'eaux^ over-arching trees, and velvet lawns, are 
only things I can name as existing there, without pos- 
sessing the power even to describe the emotions they 
occasioned me; and beside, they have been so fre- 
quently pictured by less humble historians than my- 
self, that I can not presume to say more than that I 
saw, admired, and enjoyed them through many a long 
and idle day. 

As I have said before, my lady \w» K.ni aiul in- 
dulgent to me at all times. Three days in the week 
we were permitted to stroll through the palaces and 
gardens; and if my little charge were living to-day, 
her memory would be filled with bright visions of 
those pleasant times. But, both mother and daughter 
now sleep side by side, in Death's cold embrace. 
Peace to their ashes! 

I enjoyed nothing move, in visiting the parks and 
other |)ublic places, than tiie splendid music, ijlayed 
by bands employed at government expense, to amuse 
and enliven the people. It was very pleasant to saun- 
ter about, and sit upon the rustic seats beneath the 
trees, and be regaled by the inspiring sounds, as they 
floated over the scene. Such hours as these, I fear, 
will never come again: but, at least, they will ever 
be pleasant memories. 

It was curious to see and hear the people wonder 
who I was, and what country or nation 1 had come 
from, as I strolled through the parks, palaces and 



IN HIGH LIFE. 25 

promenades, with my little responsibility by my side. 
She was very beautiful, and attracted the attention of 
every one, as her little lips first began to lisp the for- 
eign tongue; and her mother, whom she greatly re- 
sembled, Was the most admired American lady in 
Paris at that time. 

I acquired the French language with a good deal of 
facility, and was not long learning to understand re- 
marks made of myself and the child, as we passed 
along. I can not forbear mentioning a pleasant com- 
pliment paid to me, on my birth -day, by some very 
kind ladies. By a little stratagem, 1 was sent away 
by my lady, in the morning, upon an errand to Gen- 
eral Cass' residence, quite a distance from home; so 
that I had necessarily to be gone an hour or two. On 
my return, I found my bedroom, which was always 
shared by my little charge, literally decorated, from 
floor to ceiling, with flowers. The bed and window 
curtains were looped up, and festooned with roses, 
carnations, peonies, jessamines, and every flower that 
adorned the gardens at that lovely season : white lilies 
hung in garlands over the bed curtains of my little 
charge ; and in the center of the room stood a table, 
covered with cakes, wines, ices, and fruits. Not 
dreaming of the pleasant intentions of my friends in 
sending me away, I thought, on returning, that I must 
have mistaken my apartment, and so wandered in and 
out, puzzled as to the meaning of the transmogrifica- 
tion, until informed that it had been done in honor of 
my birth-day — a time-long and beautiful custom of 
France. It will be readily imagined that I was made 
happy and grateful by these kind attentions. The 
ladies wished a happy birth-day to langy ; and many 



26 A hair-dresser's experience 

valets and bonnes came to pass the evening with me. 
My lady enjoyed the scene very heartily, and was not 
in the least deterred from expressing her satisfaction 
even by the furious scowls of her husband, who was 
averse to all comfort and contentment except his 
own. The company did not break up until a late 
hour ; and altogether, it was one of the happiest events 
of my life. 

Not long after this, I had a dispute with Mr. 

about my wages. When we left America, he agreed 
to pay me two dollars per week. Havino: spent all 
the money I brought with me, I one day asked him 
for the amount due me. He refused to give it to me, 
saying I need never expect to get any more from him 
than Paris wages. I was very indignant, and told 
him, in very plain words, what I thought of his con- 
duct. Of course, after this scene, I left the gentle- 
man's service. 

I was sick of France, and longed for home ; but did 
not yet leave Paris. I entered the service of the 
Countess M., as maid to herself, daughter, and young 
son, about ten years of age. A few weeks of leisure 
before going into this family, however, gave me an 
opportunity of enjoying many of the amusements of 
Paris — concerts, balls, hippodromes, theaters, operas, 
and fetes champetre^ without number. No people 
love this latter amusement more than the French. 
I became very fond of it, and always regretted when 
I could not attend one. On one occasion particu- 
larly, I lamented being deprived (by arriving too late 
for the cars) attending a splendid fete champetre at 
Versailles : but it was well I did not go, as the whole 
train, by an accident, was destroyed by fire, and all 



IN HIGH LIFE. 27 

the passengers were either burnt or disfigured for life. 
This determined me never again to deplore any disap- 
pointment too bitterly. 

I saw more in France than Americans of the high- 
est position see generally. I had made up my mind 
to confront every difficulty in sight-seeing, and I shall 
never regret having done so, for it has given rae many 
a pleasant hour and thought since. 

At the Countess M.'s I was very pleasantly situ- 
ated, but found it necessary, in the service of a fash- 
ionable lady and her daughters, to understand hair- 
dressing ; so I improved the hours occupied by M'lle 
M.'s music lessons by taking lessons in this art of one 
of the best hair-dressers in Paris. 

Lady M. and her family had determined to go to 
England, and I was to have gone with them, but their 
time of leaving was so indefinite, and I became so 
weary of my monotonous duties, that 1 concluded to 
quit my place and learn the art of flower-making. In 
this I succeeded pretty well, though 1 soon grew tired 
of it, and thought I should like dress-making; but, 
after a short trial, finding that did not suit me, I took 
a notion to learn cooking, but soon gave that also up. 
Nothing but hair-dressing pleased my fancy for any 
length of time. With amusements, alms-giving, and 
learning the fine arts I have mentioned, my money 
was at length exhausted; and learning that M'lle M. 
was ready to start for England, I made arrangements 
to go with her, and, bidding farewell to La Belle 
Fiance, started across the channel. 



28 A haik-dkessek's experience 



CHAPTER 11. 



ENGLAND. 



We arrived in London on the morning Prince Albert 
was to lay the corner-stone of the Royal Exchange. 
There was a crush of people in the streets ; but as I 
was determined to see the procession and other grand 
doings, I rushed after the crowd, and in the course of 
of the day lost my way and lost my reticule, contain- 
ing the card of my hotel ; consequently, when all was 
over, and I had been sorely disappointed in not seeing 
the queen as well as Prince Albert, I knew no more 
where my lodgings were than the man in the moon. 
Whether 1 had come from the East, West, North, or 
South End, I could tell no one. The day was in- 
tensely cold, and I was fearfully hungry, but where to 
go I did not know. At length some kind ladies and 
gentlemen saw my perplexity, and interested them- 
selves in my behalf. They even descended from their 
carriage, and offered to take me to their home, and 
shelter me until by some means or other they could 
find out where I had wandered from. Every sort of 
question was put to me about the appearance of my 
hotel, and at last a clue was obtained to it by my re- 
membering a statue of Queen Elizabeth somewhere in 
its vicinity, by which it was conjectured by one of 
the gentlemen that it must be tlie ''Hotel de Paris." 



IN HIGH LIFE. 29 

I was immediately driven there, and found, sure 
enough, by the welcome I received from my young 
lady and others that the conjecture was right. Sev- 
eral people had been sent out to look for me to no 
purpose, and, on thanking the gentleman for his kind- 
ness in bringing me home, 1 cried with a joy 1 never 
felt before, and wondered what rich or grand person 
in America would have done so charitable an act. 1 
was overwhelmed with gratitude, and flew about like 
a big crazy child, crying and laughing alternately for 
hours afterward. 

I had never heard of London fogs, and the next 
morning when I awoke the sun looked so red and 
glaring through the dense smoke that I thought the 
Judgment Day had certainly come; but it was not 
the Judgment Day at all — it was only a London day. 
My morning duties to my lady over, I sat down and 
laughed heartily over the events of the day previous. 
They were queer enough. 

After a short stay in London, M'Ue M. returned to 
France, taking with her, as she had intended, an 
English maid; Before her departure 1 had become 
acquainted with a Mrs. E.., who very kindly interested 
herself in getting a situation for me. During the 
next week I had a great many offers of places. One 
wished me to go as maid ; another as chambei^-maid ; 
some wanted one thing, some another; but none of 
the places suited me, and I did not accept any of them. 
However, at length a family named S., from Snares- 
brook, Essex county, engaged me as child's nur^e. As 
they did not want me for a month, I made the most 
of the interval in sight-seeing. I went to Windsor; 
saw a good deal of the palace ; attended St. raul's 



30 A nAIR-DRESSER's KXrEKIENCE 

Cliurch ; saw the baptism of tliu Prince of Wales ; 
caught a glimpse of the Emperor Nicholas of Russia ; 
witnessed a grand illumination, in the midst of which, 
hearing of the death of the Duke of Orleans, 1 posted 
off immediately to Paris, to see the funeral cere- 
monies — stayed two weeks in France, enjoying my- 
self as much as possible, going wherever I pleased, 
feeling perfectly independent of everybody. I was 
tempted at one time to engage myself for the winter 
as ladies' maid in the family of a distinguished phy- 
sician, but refused, not wishing to break my promise 
to the English family. I staid, however, in Paris till 
my money was all gone, and only raised the means to 
get back to England by pledging my watch and other 
trinkets, which was my first and last transaction of 
this kind. But I knew that without money I should 
soon be without friends, for in France and England I 
had seen this fact exemplified, in many painful in- 
stances, among the high-born as well as the low. 

I have seen those who seemed to have plenty of 
means caressed and made much of to-day, and cast 
off to-morrow, when their means were gone. " Bet- 
ter be born lucky than rich ; " for riches often take to 
themselves wings, but something always seems to 
turn up just in the right time for the lucky. I trav- 
eled once, however, with an individual who seeined 
neither to have been born lucky nor rich. She and I 
chanced to be in the same diligence from Paris to B., 
where she was engaged as governess in the family of 
Count R. — an engagement which had taken place by 
letters simply, neither of the parties ever having met 
each other. Upon the occasion I speak of, she was 
on her way to the residence of the count. Iler man- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 31 

tiers were haughty and proud, and I saw at once that 
she was a jparvenu woman^ though I did not then 
know what I afterward learned of her. 

We stopped about thirty miles from Paris for dinner. 
It was customary for the outside passengers of a dili- 
gence to eat in one apartment, and those inside in 
another of a little better caste. Among the outside 
travelers was a well-dressed, gentlemanly-appearing 
man, who had evidently taken his place there to en- 
joy the pure air and fine views. He came in, in a 
quiet way, to the inside passengers' table. When he 
seated himself at the table, ihQ parvenu woman, look- 
ing very indignant, called to the landlord, and asked 
if there were not regulations prohibiting outside pas- 
sengers from eating at that table. He replied that 
such were the rules. She then said she wished he 
would enforce them, and pointing to the gentlemanly- 
looking aggressor, requested that he should be or- 
dered from the table. Without speaking a word, the 
gentleman arose and walked with the landlord into 
the inferior dining-room. 

Having finished our meal, we again started on our 
course. After traveling for a few hours across a very 
beautiful country, the diligence stopped at a magnifi- 
cent chateau. The beauty of this place attracted the 
admiration of all ; it was surrounded by grand forest 
trees, and the grounds were adorned with the most 
exquisite taste. It was evident such an abode must 
bo the dwelling of persons of rank and wealth. Soon 
a fine looking lady, accompanied by four lovely chil- 
dren and several servants, were seen approaching the 
gate, with their eyes fixed upon the top of the dili- 
gence, from which Count R., in the shape of the ver- 
3 



32 A hair-dkessek's experience 

itable gentleman whom his engaged governess had 
ejected from the superior dining apartment, alighted 
to meet bis family, from whom he had been absent for 
a few weeks. It was with great delight that all the 
passengers saw the discomfited looks of the governess 
when she discovered that the despised outside passen- 
ger was the Count R. The diligence started immedi- 
ately, 60 that w^e had no opportunity to hear what was 
said ; but I afterward, learned that the governess was 
politely invited into the house, shown into handsome 
apartments, and treated with extreme kindness for the 
night. The next morning the countess paid her a 
month's wages and dismissed her. So much for that 
'parvenu woman ! 

ESSEX COUNTY. 

Upon my arrival in England, I went immediately 
to Essex county, and commenced my duties with the 
S. family. The child assigned to my charge was not 
as bright as most children of his age, but nevertheless 
I became very much attached to him. I made up my 
mind to love him, and devoted to him my whole at- 
tention. 

The day after I had entered this family, I received 
orders from my lady to be ready dressed, with the 
child, at three o'clock, to go to London. The car- 
riage, with four horses and servants in livery, ap- 
peared at the appointed hour before the door ; a coat 
of arms was emblazoned upon the panels of the car- 
riage, and the servants were in black velvet knee 
breeches, and had cockades upon their hats. My lady, 
her daughter and my little responsibility having en- 
tered tlie carriage, the door was suddenly closed, and 



m HIGH LIFE. 33 

I was pointed to a seat beside the footman, behind 
the carriage. I very respectfully declined this honor, 
and marched myself hack into the house. Tliey re- 
turned at five to dinner, but I heard nothing that 
night of my refusal to ride with the footman. The 
next day, however, I w^as summoned to the lady's 
presence, and asked my reason for not accompanying 
her to London. She was surprised when I told her 
that in America, even a female slave acting as lady's 
maid, or child's nurse, always had a seat inside of the 
carriage with the family. She then said that, in con- 
sideration of my being an American, she would over- 
look the matter ; but had I been English^ she should 
certainly have discharged me. Afterward, when they 
required my attendance from home, I always went in 
the carriage. 

The four daughters of this family were very lovely 
persons; the eldest of whom, hearing the conversa- 
tion between her mamma and myself, stepped for- 
ward and said, "Mamma, I think langy's excuse is 
quite satisfactory, and with your permission 1 will 
hereafter take charge of her myself." After this we 
had a regular understanding about everything. Ser- 
vants in England are paid monthly, and it is custom- 
ary for them to provide their own tea and coflee out 
of their wages ; but my lady exempted me from this 
tax upon ray own means— a privilege the other ser- 
vants beheld with no little envy — and every Monday 
morning my little private caddy was filled. I took 
my breakfast and supper in my own room, but always 
dined in the servants' hall, having no other associa- 
tion with them. The upper valet and lady's maid in 
England never mingle v/ith the liousehold servants. 



84 A hair-dresser's experience 

Ladies and gentlemen in England manage their pri- 
vate afiairs as they think proper ; but many American 
ladies dare not engage a servant, unless he or she hap- 
pens to suit all the other servants in the house ; they 
dare not give a five-cent piece to one, or a bite of 
meat, or a drink of ale, without giving the same to 
the others, lest they may pout and grumble, and per- 
haps go and talk and tell stories about her. This is 
a deplorable evil in America, 

In England, no family will engage a servant with- 
out the best recommendations from his or her last em- 
ployer, but the families of England rarely part with 
an old servant. Sometimes they live thirty or forty 
years in one family, and what their master or mistress 
says is law and gospel with them. Servants, in Eng- 
land, are not allowed to call young ladies and gentle- 
men by their christian names, without prefixing to 
them Miss or Mr,; in America it is difierent. My lit- 
tle charge wanted me to call him Master^ but I told 
him I would not do so, if he were as old as Methuse- 
lah. I will leave that word for the South^ where it is 
exacted. 

Often, in the afternoon, with my little charge, and 
the young ladies, I went to a little cottage or bower, 
at the end of the grove, where the young ladies passed 
much of their time, with their embroidery, battledore, 
and other amusements. We never resorted to tiiis 
retreat unless accompanied by an enormous house 
dog for protector, as one of the young ladies, having 
strolled there upon one occasion alone, was met by a 
band of gypsies, and her watch-chain, earrings, and 
other jewelry demanded of her, which, from fear of 
her life, she gave up, and never recovered them after- 



IN nion LIFE. 35 

ward ; but the noble animal which now protected us, 
divested us of all tear. 

The next day was "Hallow Eve," and large parties 
came up from London to ride steeple-chases. I was 
very anxious to see these steeple-chases, as I had often 
heard of the daring feats of horsemanship displayed 
in them ; of the exciting races over the fields, and ter- 
rible leaps over walls and ditches, and the excitement 
always created by them ; but, when I came to see the 
reality, I was not a little disappointed — the gentlemen 
did the racing, but the valets did the ditch jumping. 
Sometimes horse, rider, and all, fell into the ditch, 
and it was a miracle if arms, legs and necks were not 
broken in the leaps. This amusement was, generally, 
carried on outside the parks, where large crowds of 
people assembled to witness it, which I found was 
rather a dangerous thing, for upon these occasions, 
the steeple-chasers- have the privilege of riding over 
everything and every body, and, for my part, I was 
for getting out of their way. Hallow Eve night is de- 
voted to various innocent amusements, by old and 
young, rich and poor. Prince and peasant hold a ju- 
bilee together — the children burn nuts to find out 
whether their future partners will be ill-natured or 
good-natured, count apple seeds, and try all manner 
of charms; the servants have their feasts in the halls; 
the nobility open their grandest drawing rooms ; and 
every sort of fun is sanctioned on " Hallow Eve;" but 
good b^ to that pleasant " Hallow Eve," I never ex- 
pect to witness anything like it again. 

My young lady was a fine horsewoman, and some- 
times joined in the deer hunts. She asked me if I 
would like to witness one ? I thanked her, and after 



38 A itair-drksser's experience 

she was seated in her saddle for the chase, she handed 
me a note, and requested me to take it to her groom. 
On delivering the note and turning away, I, by some 
mistake, took the same path the deer were in, and the 
groom let oti'the whole pack of hounds upon my foot- 
steps, which of course set me to screaming and running 
at the top of my speed ; and when I arrived, breath- 
less, in the court yard, I found my young lady and 
her attendants ready to die with laughing. I dis- 
covered that the note sent to the groom contained an 
order to have the hounds let loose upon the deer, as 
soon as my back should be turned, knowing that I 
would not be hurt at all ; but, indeed, it was about as 
bad to be scared to death. I took it all good humored- 
ly, as I saw my young lady only meant to have a little 
innocent fun at my expense. 

The gentlemen were all in hunting costume, and 
the servants in hunting livery. The deer hunt was a 
brilliant and exciting scene, and my young lady was 
the most graceful rider I had ever seen. 

For weeks after Hallow Eve, everything was quiet 
— the long walks and rides on horseback were part of 
every day's occupation, but all other amusements were 
carried on within doors. I remember nothing of in- 
terest for a long time, but a breakfast at Lady R.'s, at 
which, by some means or other, I managed to get a 
peep, as I did at everything else that was going on. 
It was a gay and splendid affair ; the grounds about 
the mansion were superb; the grand old tre*, artifi- 
cial lakes, with swans and pleasure boats upon them ; 
music in the open air; elegantly attired ladies and 
gentlemen; groups of footmen in livery; all delighted 
me, and, after enjoying the scene, I quietly returned 



IN HIGH LIFE. 37 

home, to set it down in my book of English recol- 
lections. 

Time passed on rapidly, and Prince Albert came 
one day, with a great retinue, to the vicinity of Epping 
Forest, to lay a corner-stone for an orphan asylum. 
All the neighboring ladies contributed toward the 
object — some more, some less, according to their 
means — and it was amusing to see the airs they put 
on, on delivering the purse to the prince; I thought 
I sliould die with laughing at some of them; but I 
did not: I lived to bid farewell to this happ}' English 
family, and to wander away, in the watering season, to 
Ramsgate, 

This far-famed English watering-place, upon whose 
dangerous coast so many wrecks occur in the stormy 
seasons of the year, and, indeed, the strolls of the 
pleasure seekers, in August and September, upon the 
cliffs and beaches, are often disturbed by harrowing 
sights of suffering and dying fellow-beings upon the 
distant rocks. But at last I tired of gathering shells 
at Ramsgate, and began to have a longing for home. 
A berth was procured for me, on board of a merchant 
ship, bound for New York. On arriving on board, 
and finding but one woman upon the ship, I got off 
at Gravesend, where I was sent to the pilot's house, 
and treated very kindly by the pilot's wife and family 
for some two or three months. Here I had an oppor- 
tunity of seeing still more of England. I visited all 
the watering-places in my capacity of hair-dresser, 
Dover, Brighton, Broadstairs' Bend; saw the curiosi- 
ties of every place, and was delighted with every- 
thing but the canal passage through the Tunnel, which 
I attempted to perform ; but when I found myself 



.S8 A haik-dresser''s experience 

in the boat, I hallooed so that they had to send me 
back. 

But again I grew homesick, and, though all around 
were kind to me, I felt like a stranger in a strange 
land. I had but ten dollars in the world, and, at 
Gravesend, as well as everywhere else, I knew I 
sliould lose my friends as soon as they discovered I 
had no money. I desired to go home, but could not 
do so without money, I had health and a trade, and 
though I felt a little lazy, yet I went to work to recruit 
my exhausted treasury. I went to London and taught 
ladies' maids to dress hair, got a little ahead in purse 
again, and returned to Gravesend, upon an occasion 
when the queen embarked, on a small royal cutter, 
for her estates in Scotland. I stood upon the pier 
until tlie fairy vessel passed by, and distinctly saw 
her majesty, standing upon the deck, surrounded by 
lords, ladies and gentlemen, with liveried servants in 
attendance. The vessels in the harbor, bearing the 
flags of every nation, suddenly hoisted them as the 
royal cutter glided along, and the roar«f cannon was 
so tremendous that I was deafened for hours after- 
ward ; but I was so inspirited by the scene, that, for 
a few moments, I wished myself a man and in her 
majesty's service. 

This fete day ended with a dinner party, at which 
I was dressed in my best, and a visit to Covent Gar- 
den Theater in the evening. 

I now began to think I had seen about all I could 
in England, and resolved, for about the fiftieth time, 
to go home, but, again, I had no money. I went on 
board of the packet ship Philadelphia, however, told 
the captain 1 was penniless, but must go home on his 



IN IIIGn LIFE. 39 

ship or die. He thought it best not to let me die so 
forlornly on a foreign shore, and so, as the cabin was 
crowded with ladies and children, he placed the little 
responsibilities in my charge, and in this way I earned 
my passage back to my native land. I made a great 
many friends on shipboard, and felt very sorry to 
leave them; it had to be done tnough, and soon we 
all parted, probably never to meet again. 



4-0 A hair-dresser's experience 



CHAPTER III. 

AMERICA. 

It seemed to me that I was destined always to arrive 
at places upon confused and excited occasions. Tlie 
Colt hanging was the order of the day upon my ar- 
fival in New York, and the whole populace was in 
the streets ; but a few moments before the scene was 
to have come ofJ', his prison was discovered to be on 
fire, and when it was extinguished, a body was found 
in Colt's apartment, stuck through with a knife ; but 
there were many doubts as to whether it was tlie body 
of Colt or not; all was clothed in mystery then, and 
probably always will be, about the affair. It is more 
than likely that Colt, the murderer, now walks the 
earth, and eats, drinks and enjoys himself in some 
remote corner of it, like other people ; for he had 
wealthy relatives, and wealth will unloose prison bai-s 
and untie tlie knot even upon the very scaffold which 
is to launch the foulest wretch to his merited doom. 

But I had no wealth, and what was I to do without 
it in New York ? I took passage on a freight boat 
bound for Albany, where I staid until 1 had accumu- 
lated enough funds to start out again to the West, 
where I liad friends who would take care of me. And 
so I got on in the world by a little energy and perse- 
verance. 

The first person I met in Cincinnati was my beloved 



IN HIGH LIFE. 41 

friend, who treated me so badly in Paris. "Why, 
how do yon do, langy?" he said, as I was passing 
his door, on my way to my lodgings. " Not dead 
yet, I thank yon, sir ! " was my reply, as I passed on, 
which was rather unbecoming in me, I must confess ; 
for I had recently had serious thoughts of becoming 
a Christian, and with this intention had no right to 
harbor resentment, even toward my bitterest enemy. 

All welcomed me kindly. My first patrons, the 
L — s, made me happy by their hospitable treat- 
ment, and their grandson, who had been my first lit- 
tle responsibility, had grown to be such a princely- 
looking little fellow that the royalty of England might 
have been proud to claim him for their own. I went 
every day to see my little King of the Butterflies, as 
. 1 used to call him, and in so doing I was obliged al- 
ways to pass the door of my little Versailles respon- 
sibilit}'-, who, with her gentle mother, were always 
dearly beloved objects to me. I grieved because I 
could not see them, every time I went to see my King 
of the Butterflies ; but I only saw the little creature 
once when she cried after me as I passed the door, 
and I stopped and kissed her — for which she received 
a tumbler of water in her face, thrown by the inter- 
esting valet who lived with my gentleman in Paris. 

After staying eight or ten days in Cincinnati, I 
heard of a gentleman going South, anil as I always 
had an inclination to travel, and was particularly de- 
sirous of seeing the sunny South, I engaged with him 
and started for Memphis, having in my charge a little 
boy and girl. I was with them but a short time till 
they were quite attached to me, and I to them. 

After a few days we reached Memphis, and went to 



42 A hair-dresser's experience 

visit Dr. O., an uncle of the lady, who was very 
wealthy, and lived in style. A little to my surprise, 
I was treated very kindly ; the whole household, old 
ladies, young ladies, gentlemen, and even the children 
and servants all treated me as kindly as if I had 
lived among them for years. 

Dr. O. had a great many slaves, and was very kind 
to them. Many of these slaves worked on a farm, 
and every Saturday night on their coming in he would 
give them something, if only a quarter, as an encour- 
agement to work, and they seemed to work through 
love and not through fear. They were very bright 
and intelligent, notwithstanding they came from North 
Carolina, where it is generally known that the poor 
whites and oppressed slaves are proverbially ig- 
norant; so much so, that an old white woman, once, 
at a great meeting, when the preacher was trying to 
impress on the minds of his congregation their duty 
to God, and what he had done for them, and ended 
by saying, Christ died for them, — started up and 
said, "Why, brother, is Christ dead; when did he 
die?" Dr. O.'s servants, however, were not of this 
character ; they were all very intelligent, and I was 
quite astonished at the amount of general information 
displayed by many of them. But although the ser- 
vants in this family were well treated and happy, in 
tlie neighborhood were masters of a very difierent 
character from that of the kind Dr. Often very early 
in the morning I went out walking with Dr. O.'s 
daughter. During one of these walks, while passing 
near the residence of a gentlemen in the neighborhood, 
our attention was attracted by screams and groans ; 
stopping, we peeped through the fence, and discov- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 43 

ered a woman tied to a tree, being severely whipped 
by a person much younger than herself. This aroused 
me, and I determined to find out what ofiense she had 
given. It so happened, in a day or two one of this 
neighbor's servants came over on an errand to the 
doctor's. I asked her why this woman had been 
whipped ; she told rae she had failed to perform her 
duties before going out to work. I asked her what 
were her duties ; she sai(i she had the marketing and 
washing to do from four o'clock till it was time to go 
to work ; sometimes she failed, and then she was 
whipped ; again, at times, she would be so tired she 
would hardly be able to do her day's work after 
working so long in the morning; but the money she 
must bring home with her, come from where it might. 
During my stay in Memphis, I witnessed many such 
cases, some even worse than this. 

The time had now come when my lady and gentle- 
man were to go to Alabama ; they expected me to go 
along, but by the advice of the uncle I did not go. 
Both the lady and gentleman treated me well, yet 
they were disappointed— I did not go with them. 

Having heard a great deal of New Orleans, I 
wanted to go there, and to judge for myself of its 
perfections and imperfections ; so I went on boanl the 
steamer Champion. When she landed at New Or- 
leans, I staid on board, and did not go off but once in 
a while to look around me. In a few days the boat 
was bound upward for Cincinnati. 

There was a great crowd of passengers, among the 
rest, a Colonel C, with a large family, from Steubon- 
ville, Oiiio. On ray way up I engaged myself with 
Mrs. C. as nurse: went to Steubenville and staid 



44: A hair-dresser's experience 

there some ten months. I liked the family very much, 
but again the old desire for traveling came over me, 
and I started for Cincinnati, and there engaged 
with a private family. Having been so long away 
from Cincinnati, the climate did not agree with me, 
and I was taken sick, when the doctor ordered me 
South. I started again from Cincinnati to Louis- 
ville on the old Ben Franklin, which was said to go 
so fast, gentlemen had to tie their hats on, and the 
ladies pin their bonnets to their heads. However, 
she landed me safe in Louisville, where I took passage 
on the Great Western for New Orleans. 

There was a tremendous crowd going down ; among 
them there were a Mr. and Mrs. A. The lady had 
been accustomed to have her hair dressed while South, 
but on her going East she could not get it done. 
While on board, I dressed her hair for her all the 
way down. She asked me why I did not go South 
and dress hair. I told her I feared there were too 
many hair-dressers there, and I might not be able to 
dress hair as well as they did, though 1 had learned 
the art in Paris. She said there was no one there 
could dress hair any better than I could, which was 
very encouraging to me. She was going to the St. 
Charles, and I went with her; she allowed me so 
much a month, and to make what I could when she 
did not need me. I made that season two hundred 
dollars. Having been so long without money, I 
fancied myself rich. I staid in New Orleans till late 
in the season, and then went to Dreunon's Lick, a 
watering-place in Kentucky, which at that time was 
attended by all the fashioiuibles of Cincinnati, Louis- 
ville, Lexington, Ky,, and Madison, Ind. We had a 



IN HIGH LIFE. 45 

great many belles there from Cincinnati, Louisville and 
Madison. I now had an opportunity to display my 
talent in hair-dressing ; combing a young bride who, 
in a freak of passion, cut off her hair to vex her husband, 
when she was dressed many ladies could not believe her 
hair was cut off; she was food for the envious ; they all 
envied her beauty and the position she held while in 
her father's house, but after her elopement she lost caste. 
She was at this time alone with her husband, and from 
some cause they seemed to be in a continual excite- 
ment. There was at this time a great fancy ball ; 
she went, dressed very simply as a little flower-girl, 
and looking very sweet and pretty ; her husband 
came into the ball-room and wanted to take her out ; 
she would not go, and they had quite a fuss. Some 
gentlemen there asked him out, and threatened him 
with what they would do, if he did not behave him- 
self. She soon after left the ball-room, and going 
into the cottage of an acquaintance, she begged the 
protection of the lady and gentleman till her mother 
and father could be written to. They were on East 
with her elder sister, who was a great belle. It was 
a great mortification to them to find in adjoining col- 
umns of the same newspaper the success of the one 
sister as a belle, her beauty and accomplishments, and 
the whole scenes at Drennon's Lick, and the other sis- 
ter's adverse fortune. Iler mother and father returned 
as soon as possible, and set to work to get a divorce. 
Some few months passed over; all things went on 
bright and brilliant; the daughter seemed as happy 
as possible under her father's roof; but, unknown to 
them, she was receiving messages from her husband. 
A few days before the divorce was to be granted, the 



46 A hair-dresser's experience 

elder sister gave a polka party, and while the guests 
were dancing and enjoying themselves in the front 
of the house, the sister slipped out of the back door 
and joined her husband again. Her father and mother 
were though disappointed and displeased, without the 
power of doing anything. This was not the last of 
their separations. Every once and a while they sep- 
erate, and live apart a short time. Nevertheless, the 
lady has raised a pretty little family, and is herself one 
of the handsomest women in Kentucky. 

Anotlier of the notables at Drennon was a famous 
married belle, whose delight it was to fascinate all 
men, married or single. There was also there a gen- 
tleman from the South, with his wife, a mild, delicate, 
lady-like person. This belle took a great fancy to the 
Southerner, and flirted with him on all occasions, 
greatly to the displeasure of his wife. They used to 
walk about in the evenings, and sit till late at night, 
even under the very window where his wife was wait- 
ing for him. One night, about one o'clock, she was 
sitting up in the room waiting for her husband, when 
she heard this belle say to him: "Let us sit till three, 
and see if she will wait up for you." "Was not this 
trying to a delicate wife's feelings? The next season 
the belle was back again, but the gentleman and his 
family did not make their appearance. 

We will for the present leave this lady, and give you 
a little sketch of a married belle from Georgia, Tliis 
lady's husband was a man of high standing, and very 
wealtlty, but in very poor health. They went to 
Drennon's Lick for his health, and to have quiet; but 
tlie lady entered into all the gayeties of that gay place. 
She would leave her husband coughing and bleeding 



IN HIGH LI^E. 47 

at the lungs, her children fretting and crying, dress 
herself, and go down to the ball-room, where she 
wonld stay, it may be, till one or two o'clock at night. 
She returned home with him, but before the end of the 
season death came and rid her of him. The next I 
saw of her she was in a hotel in New York, reclining 
on a sofa, elegantly attired, covered with diamonds, 
and everything about her exquisite. Ostensibly she 
was under the care of a physician, but I learned the 
physician was but a cloak to cover her long stay from 
her second husband ; and occasionally a gentleman 
from New Orleans came to see her, making business 
in New York the excuse to his wife and family for his 
absence. The last time he visited her, on his return 
home he found his wife had taken laudanum and de- 
stroyed herself. Full five hundred such scenes have 
come under my notice since I've been a hair- 
dresser. 

During: that season there were many exciting scenes 
at Drennon. A number of young men took to rob- 
bing, and got taken up. The evidence was clear, and 
they tried to get one of the young men to tell where 
the money and valuables were concealed. To make 
him confess, they put his hand in a vise. His screams 
were dreadful, but nobody minded him. This young 
fellow had made his haul, buried his share of the plun- 
der, and was coming back after more when taken 
up. They were far from any city or officer, and as he 
would not confess, they ha^l to let him free. He was 
watched by some of the party, seen to go after his 
plunder, get it and leave. 

The season closed at Drennon with a grand fancy 
ball, after which the visitors left for their homes. 
4 



48 A iiair-dresser's experience 

Fall, winter and spring passed, but during this time 
nothing occurred to me worthy of narration. Early in 
the summer, hearing that great preparations were 
making at Drennon, I concluded to again spend the 
season there. On arriving, I found that a large num- 
ber of visitors were expected. Gambling rooms, bil- 
liard saloons and ten-pin alleys were fitted up, and 
every arrangement made that could add to the amuse- 
ment and excitement of the pleasure-seekers at a 
watering-place. 

The principal building was very large, and adjoin- 
ing on either side was a row of smaller buildings, with 
family rooms ; then around were numerous little cot- 
tages, where families from Cincinnati, Madison, Louis- 
ville, Lexington, and a great many Southerners were 
accommodated. At the foot of the hill were cottages 
without number, called Texas, where the servants and 
commoner class of people resided. Before the hight of 
the season came on, the great monster, Cholera, made 
his appearance. It was on the 3d of July, and all the 
gentlemen had gone to Cincinnati, or other neighbor- 
ing places, to celebrate the Fourth, leaving their fami- 
lies behind. Those that remained had fire-works, and 
various other out-door amusements, to amuse them- 
selves and gratify tiie villagers around. In the even- 
ing was a grand ball. I looked on and saw them 
dance till about ten o'clock, when 1 retired to my 
room, as I did not feel well, having drank consider- 
able of the sulphur-water during the day. A little 
after twelve the ball broke up. Just then the carpen- 
ter was taken very ill. They said it was from eating 
cherry pie and drinking milk, but during the night 
the proprietor and his family had all a slight attack. 



IN man life. 49 

but, for fear of frightening the boarders, it was kept 
quiet. I roomed in the same cottage, and heard a 
great stir during the night, but did not think anything 
of it. At five o'clock 1 was awoke by the chamber- 
maid, who told me a man named Allen, from Cincin- 
nati, was dead. I dressed myself as quickly as pos- 
sible, and went down to Texas, where I found the 
man dead indeed, of cholera in its severest form. A 
moment after word was brought of another death, and 
yet another, and another. There were five deaths in 
all during the first twelve hours. 

I felt a great deal alarmed, and went to see a lady 
from Cincinnati, who was there with her mother, Mrs. 
D., and Mrs. Judge M. They advised me to stay, 
and said it was dangerous to fly from disease. While 
we were in conversation, a chamber-maid came run- 
ning to me and told me the other chamber-maid, whom 
I had just left about five minutes before, was ill with 
cholera. I at once went to her assistance. 

On entering the room I found her all cramped, and 
black around the eyes and mouth. I was terribly 
frightened, but determined to do what I could for her, 
80 1 gave her a large dose of laudanum and brandy, 
put a large plaster of mustard to her chest, feet and 
hands, and staid with her till I got her into a perspi- 
ration ; then I left her, went into my own room, and 
got everything I had ready to put in my trunks. 
During the short time I was out from her room an old 
doctor, who was good for nothing but attending on 
babies, went in and gave her something which acted 
on her as an emetic. Knowing there was no physi- 
cian near, and finding the book-keeper and this old 
man were trying the most desperate experiments, I 



50 A hair-dresser's experience 

became so alarmed I went out and inquired what time 
the stage started. It left at two o'clock, and it was 
then half-past one, so 1 crammed in my trunks what I 
could easily, and gave the rest away, and was ready 
by the time the stage came along. 

Some of the ladies that 1 had worked for came to 
the gallery and said: "Good bye, langy ; go in 
peace, and sin no more." My reply was: "I wish 
some of you would go with me, as I fear when you 
get ready to go you will not be able." 

There were many servants and poor people around 
to say good-bye to me. Many wished it was in their 
power to leave, but it was not. Some of them I 
never saw again, as very many were carried off by 
that desolating scourge. There were fourteen in the 
stage that left Drennon that morning ; out of this 
number but five lived. When we got to the foot of 
the hill where we took the steamboat, which was two 
miles from the house, we were fortunate that got on 
board, as the steamboat only came every other day. 
Those who came off the boat to seek their friends took 
sick and died. 

Being afraid to go to Cincinnati, as the cholera was 
very bad there, I went to Madison. One of the 
wealthiest families in that place took me to their house 
and gave me one of their best spare rooms, where I 
was very sick for several days. After I recovered I 
learned some of the horrors of Drennon. As I before 
told you, the cholera broke out about twelve o'clock on 
Tliursday night, and I left at two o'clock on Friday. 
From twelve on Thursday till twelve on Friday there 
were twenty-three deaths. Some of those ladies who 
bade me go in peace and sin no more, were stricken 



IN HIGH LIFE. 51 

down, and had no time to leave. In their sore sick- 
ness they liad no help, no aid, no physician, and their 
eyes were closed in death ; without help of any kind 
they entered that bourne from whence no traveler ever 
returns. In their agony and helplessness many of 
those who had laudanum and morphine took it, and 
slept themselves away. 

I learned, by those who were there helping to nurse 
the sick, that it was one of the gloomiest nights ever 
witnessed on earth. They had few lights, and even 
those seemed to glimmer away ; it appeared as if 
they could not burn briglitly amid so much misery, 
where nothing was heard but groans and sighs of 
agony. Bells were rung, but there was no one to an- 
swer them. The sick had to take care of the sick, 
and the dying to bury the dead. 

The proprietor and his family fled, taking witli 
them all the medicines, leaving nothing, nor even 
letting the boarders know they were going. As I be- 
fore said, many ladies were there whose husbands 
were gone, and many who had some member of their 
family sick, and could not leave them. 

One circumstance occurred, the remembrance of 
M'hich is horrible to me. To this day 1 shudder to 
think of it, A lady was left at Drennon by her hus- 
band, who had gone to Lexington to buy some land, 
she got so frightened she left in the care of a gentle- 
man and went to Louisville. Her husband came for 
her, and, not finding her at Drennon's, he went on 
to Louisville. On his going up the hotel stairs, he 
met persons bearing down a corpse. His horror and 
despair on finding it was his wife's remains they were 
bearing, may be imagined, but can not be described. 



52 A hair-dkesser's experience 

The hearse was in waiting, and, under the circum- 
stances, he could not even get one look at her he loved 
BO well, and had left so short a time before in the en- 
joyment of good health and spirits ; to find her on his 
return shrouded and coffined, ready for bearing to her 
last resting-place, was almost too much for human 
reason to bear. 

There were full forty or fifty deaths occurred in that 
little place, and only the notice of about a dozen was 
given. There was neither physician nor coffin witliin 
fifteen miles. They had to put up a kind of box, and 
into that put their dead. The scenes there were heart- 
rending. All around were the sick, and nobody to 
attend them. Many happy families came there that 
season with numerous members, and but one or two, 
it may be, were left. Many husbands and their wives 
came there from the toil and heat of the city, to spend 
the summer in quietness and peace ; one was taken 
and the other left; or, in some cases, both were 
stricken down, and both were carried by strangers and 
laid in a stranger's grave. All this occurred within a 
short distance of four of our most populous cities. 
After this it was found impossible to make a watering- 
place of Drennon's and they turned it into a military 
school. 



IN nion LIFE. 53 



CHAPTER III. 

SARATOGA. 

I HAD for some time intended going to Saratoga, and, 
having entirely recovered my health, concluded to 
start immediately, and spend the summer there. I 
arrived in the hight of the gay season. Belles were 
there from all parts of the country. The North vied 
with the South, the West with the East in beauty and 
wit, in elegance and splendor. 

I have always been very fond of Saratoga, and I 
believe it to be the favorite watering-place of all the 
world in the summer season. The United States 
Hotel, which is the rendezvous of fashion and splen- 
dor, occupies a large space of ground, extending on one 
extremity to the raih'oad depot, where passenger cars 
arrive from every direction, several times a day. The 
immense stretching lawns upon all sides of the hotel 
are finely ornamented with trees, gravel walks, and 
shrubbery. The barber's saloon, with its marble 
baths, basins, and perfumed attendants, are the first 
objects that meet the eye on entering the left gate of 
the premises from the depot. Then comes the room 
wliere passengers register their names; then the 
ladies' reception-room, adjoining which is a large 
hall, well supplied with servants, devoted to the ser- 
vice of the newly-arrived people ; next to this is the 



54 A iiaik-dresser's experience 

■wine-room, and then the great dining-room, within the 
door of which stands, like ix polite statue^ the ever -ma- 
jestic Morris, the steward of the honsehold. The gen- 
tlemen's promenade skirts the dining-room, and leads 
off in a triangular direction to a long smoking gallery, 
which divides the dining-room from the ladies' parlor, 
opposite to which is the ladies' promenade. Here the 
fair votaries of fashion can be distinctly seen by the 
occupants of the smoking gallery, and commented on 
to their heart's content. Besides these two prom- 
enades, there is again a general promenade, fronting 
in another direction from the hotel, which is so com- 
modious as to admit of eight hundred or a thousand 
promenaders at once, without the least crush of crin- 
oline or inconvenience whatever. This promenade is 
kept so scrupulously clean and neat, that ladies have 
worn their dresses sweeping over it for the whole 
season, and then ]>assed them ofiF as quite fresh and 
new at other watering-places. 

The groups of ladies and gentlemen assembled upon 
this immense piazza pass their time usually in com- 
ments upon each other; and here, of all the world, is 
the i)lace for diamonds, brocades and satins to maJie a 
sensation. A lady might as well stay at home as to 
go to Saratoga without real lace and diamonds ; 
there was a time when a lady could hire jewelry for 
the season, and thus impose herself upon the elite cir- 
cles at the " United States Hotel " for, at least^ a person 
of wealthy very successfully. But lynx-eyed fashion 
found this trick out, and xoouldnH stand it; since 
which a lady's diamonds must be her ovm^ or she 
can't sliine at Saratoga; and so perfect is the system 
71010 of investigation into these matters practiced at 



IN HIGH LIFE. 55 

Saratoga, that it would be utterly useless for any lady, 
from Maine to California, to go there and attempt to 
pass oft' as her own the smallest articles of hired or 
So/voi^^rZ jewelry. It would be found out before she 
had been there twenty-four hours, and the whisper- 
ings of the Paul Pry circles and their accomplices 
would drive her out of the town in twenty-four more. 

The ball-room at Saratoga is between three and 
four hundred feet in length, and proportionate in 
width ; it is adorned with huge mirrors and glittering 
chandeliers ; the floor is smooth and glassy, and the 
music always the finest in the world. Upon dancing 
evenings, dress is here displayed in every variety of 
elegance. A Saratoga ball is a gorgeous scene. The 
" Lanciers" and the round dances form the almost en- 
tire amusement of the evening at the present time — 
to the utter exclusion of the old-fashioned and mo- 
notonous quadrille. The German quadrille is usually 
danced in the drawing-room in the mornings, between 
breakfast and dinner. 

From the ball-room, after the ladies are disposed 
of, the gentlemen usually repair to the club-rooms of 
the hotel, where they generally make a night of it — 
and where, by some strange process or other, many 
of them find themselves, at the dawn of the next day, 
divested of means for remaining any longer in this 
fashionable atmosphere — the consequence of which is 
that the wives and daughters who shone the most 
brilliantly upon the promenade and in the drawing- 
room the day before, are to-day hustled off for home, 
very mysteriously, in the first train of cars. No one 
knows why or wherefore, only that Mrs. So-and-So 
was heard scolding and ranting, and her daughters 



56 A hair-dressek's experience 

crying and sniveling ; while Mr. So-and>go was seen 
pitching finery into trunks without ceremony, and 
piling oaths ujp mountain Mgli^ by way of an accom- 
paniment. But no wonder that crying, scolding and 
swearing should take the place of jpraying sometimes^ 
with persons so suddenly and cruelly disappointed ; 
for Saratoga swarms with delights for people who can 
afford to enjoy them. From dawn till midnight, it 
ofiers a continued round of pleasures. The walks to 
the springs in the early morning — the display of an 
elegant breakfast toilet upon the gallery or prome- 
nade — bowling in the forenoon — strolls to the Indian 
encampments, musical matinees^ private concerts, les- 
sons in the new dances in the ball-room, battledore 
upon the lawns and in the parlor, sherry cobblers, 
mint juleps and brandy smashes, groups for intellect- 
ual conversation, everywhere — then the dinner toilet 
preparations, the evening drives, excursions upon the 
lakes, moonlight flirtations and pleasant dreams — 
combine the excitements of a Saratoga day and night. 
No wonder the ladies flare up, when the losses of the 
husbands at the gaming table make it necessary to 
hustle them away, without warning, from such pleas- 
ant scenes. 

Among the elegant ladies who visited Saratoga a few 
summers since, was Mrs. R,, daughter of Lady R., of 
Toronto. She was eminently handsome, sang divinely, 
and was the first who ventured to wear the gipsy hat 
and feathers, which she did with a grace I have not since 
seen rivaled, though I have often seen it attempted ; 
indeed it was amusing to witness the innumerable ef- 
forts made to imitate this lady's costume and style. 
Occasionally there might be seen some feeble resem.- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 57 

hlance to them, but this was all ; her tall, elegant fig- 
ure had no equal among these who courted her so- 
ciety and envied the admiration created by her noble 
deportment. In this lady's party was the family of 
Bishop T., of Toronto, and other distinguished per- 
sons. Madame R., of Philadelphia, was her most in- 
timate friend at the Springs. No one can ever forget 
this truly beautiful and accomplished lady of Toronto 
who has seen her. 

The fancy ball of that season, which was perhaps 
the most brilliant for many years at Saratoga, was a 
ecene I shall long remember. The costumes of the 
ladies upon that occasion could scarcely be surpassed 
in taste and elegance. I often wonder what are the 
destinies that have overtaken the fair votaries of that 
brilliant evening. I well remember Miss M — , of 
New York, in the gala costume of an Italian Peasant 
Girl, in a skirt of white silk, with white and crimson 
alternate flounces, and head dress gaily festooned with 
jewels. Also, Miss J. M — , of Natchez, as the 
"Maid of the Mist," with a rainbow across the cor- 
sage of her floating white robe, and a zephyr vail 
adorned with pearls like dew-drops, enveloping her 
entire person; Miss N,, of New \ -rk, as a Spanish 
lady, in black lace and diamonds ; Miss M. M — , 
of Natchez, as " The Morning Star," in a soft dress 
of white lace, with rose-colored vail, studded with 
golden stars ; Miss G. M— , of Mississippi, as Night, 
in black tulle dress and vail, with silver stars, and a 
crescent upon her forehead ; Miss F., of Philadelphia, 
a la Pompadour, with skirts of pink moire antique^ 
looped with bunches of roses, and roses in her pow- 
dered hair ; Miss C, of New York, as a Vivandiere, 



58 A hair-dresser's experience 

with red skirt, red shoes, blue jacket, fancy hat with 
streamers, and the cantin suspended from her leather 
girdle ; Mrs. B— , of New York, as " Undine," in 
a dress of blue and white tulle, festooned with shells 
and water lilies, and pearls wreathed in her hair ; 
Miss D — , of New York, as a Gleaner, in a white 
dress with corsage striped with black velvet, and hair 
adorned with sprays of wheat ; Miss E,., of Philadel- 
phia, in a dress entirely composed of newspapers, 
which was much noticed — and numbers of other ele- 
gant costumes which I can not remember. It was a 
night for very brilliant and very lovely women to dis- 
play their tastes, their jewels -and their fascinations. 

The South and the North were at one time at great 
rivalry at Saratoga ; the Southerners had it all their 
own way for many years, but at length New York 
succeeded in taking the lead, and up to this time has 
kept it with unrivaled success. But the New Yorkers 
are very far from being at peace among themselves at 
Saratoga, or any other place. New York has its 
cliques, and the maneuvering practiced among them 
is curious to observe. Sometimes one is ahead, and 
sometimes another ; but there are alwa3'S certain ones 
whose dignity, wealth and bearing keup them beyond 
the fluctuations that worry and fret the rising genera- 
tion ; they feel that they have triumphed, that their 
foundation is sure, and they wear their laurels quietly 
but securely. These elegant people sit calmly down, 
and amuse themselves with beholding the heart-burn- 
ings and strivings of new aspirants to the tiirone of 
fashion. 

Very romantic dramas are occasionally enacted at 
Saratoga ; I remember one among many, worth rclat 



IN IIIQII LIFE. 69 

ing perhaps in these pages, as causing a great excite- 
ment at the time it transpired. It was in the summer 
of IS — . Saratoga was at its hight of reveh-y, when 
one evening it was announced that the wealthy and 
fashionable Mrs. — , who had recently returned from 
Europe — where she had flown to prevent her daughter 
from marrying the man she preferred of all others — 
had just arrived at the hotel, in a high state of indig- 
nation at having caught sight, in the depot, of her 
daughter's still adoring lover. This was rather too 
much for Mrs. — to bear ; but she stormed and 
fretted in vain. The engagement was renewed be- 
tween the lovers, and arrangements forthwith made 
for an elopement; but the clergyman engaged to 
unite them was, unknown to them, one of her father's 
intimate friends, who immediately made the matter 
known to both of her parents. He, however, ap- 
peared on the ground at the appointed hour for the 
ceremony, accompanied by the lady's father. Here 
was a scene ; the lady fainted, was borne to her apart- 
ments, and after a consultation with the respective 
parties it was deemed advisable to let them be mar- 
ried. Accordingly, preparations upon the grandest 
scale were commenced, and the wedding took place 
before the fashion of Saratoga, the next day, in the 
village church. The bride was simply but elegantly 
attired, and the nuptial pair, with their twelve brides- 
maids and twelve groomsmen, made a splendid wed- 
ding array. All the attendants wore white satin ro- 
settes, and the footmen and servants, carriages and 
horses were streaming with white satin ribbons. Tiie 
bride's favorite riding horse was decorated otf for the 
occasion, and having been left standing in the rear 



60. A hair-dresser's experience 

of her carriage for a few moments, quietly walked 
himself round to the side of it, and laid his head af- 
fectionately in his mistress' lap; she caressed him 
lovingly for a few moments, and the party drove to 
the church, elated with happiness ; from the church 
to Saratoga Lake, where a splendid supper awaited 
them; after which all returned to the hotel in time 
for the ball in the evening. 

In those times they held their balls in the dining- 
room, and the guests then seemed to enjoy themselves 
more than they do now-a-days in the new and splendid 
hall. I can not account for it in any way, unless it is 
that the ladies who reigned over society then were 
more ambitious, and cared more for display than those 
who preside at the present day. They were certainly 
not superior to those who congregate at this attractive 
spot of late years, but different tastes, I suppose, will 
have their sway at different periods ; and it matters 
not to what expense gentlemen may go to change the 
state and tone of society, it is the ladies who give it its 
tone after all ; and the fact is, that so many new peo- 
ple are springing up upon the Saratoga platform now- 
a-days, that the old select circles are beginning to re- 
tire from the scene to more rural and quiet retreats. 
Nevertheless, Saratoga will always be the great water- 
ing-place of the* New World. Newport has endeav- 
ored in vain to rival it; but, being at the sea-side, 
Newport will always have its worshipers, and so 
will Nahant, Cape May, and Rye Beach — especially 
for Western people, and those living in the interior — 
but for those living permanently at the sea-side, Sara- 
toga, Niagara, Sharon Springs, Catskill Mountains, 
and Lebanon, offer the most attractions, and are al- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 61 

ways crowded with elegant people. Some who for- 
merly went habitually to those far-famed watering- 
places, now cross the Atlantic and pass the season in 
Europe : others go over in May, purposely to supply 
themselves with a Parisian wardrobe, and return to 
Saratoga with a glittering display in August. 

A lady informed me, last summer, that she had 
made a three-months' tour in Europe, with her family, 
and enjoyed herself very much, at about half the ex- 
pense it would have required to pass three weeks at 
Saratoga, and not half the trouble. But fashion, in 
our country, is carried to an extreme which is posi- 
tively vulgar, and Z, the poor hair-dresser, can see it 
as well as the poor devils of husbands who have it all 
to pay for, and who are often reduced to penury and 
madness by the extravagance of their wives and 
daughters. I knew a lady — and her name is now no- 
toriously known — whose habit it was to travel with 
fifteen trunks, containing a hundred and fifty cos- 
tumes. These trunks were called by the gentlemen 
"young log-cabins." This lady was from the South, 
and was monstrous hard to please. It usually re- 
quired her several days to get suitably roomed ; and 
she grumbled and scolded continually, no matter how 
much pains were taken by her husband to please her. 
Poor Mr. W ! no gentleman ever came to Sara- 
toga more pitied than he was. He was pitied by some 
because he was hen-jpecked^ and despised by others for 
the little authority he asserted over his domestic af- 
fairs. But people may talk as they please on this 
subject, when a woman makes up her mind to govern^ 
it is of no use for a man to interfere. Women are 
greater tyrants than men, all the world over. The 



62 A hair-dresser's experience 

poor hair-dresser has not lived in the fashionable 
world, and presided at the toilets of fashionable 
women twenty years, without having well ascertained 
this fact. Women, to be sure, are often imposed 
upon, but it can not be denied that the husbands of 
fashionable women are too often the most to-be-pitied- 
wrotches that walk the earth. Mrs. W. had a hun- 
dred and fifty dresses, and made five toilets a day. 
Wretched slave that she was to fashion ! For four 
successive seasons 1 dressed her hair, and each year 
she became more and more disagreeable, from a frantic 
desire to obtain a standing in fashionable circles, 
which, from some cause or other, was always a failure 
with her. Not that her dress was not elegant, her 
jewels her own (a great desideratum), her conduct 
perfectly proper, so far as the world could judge; but 
her efibrts were two perceptible to succeed with the 
ladies, and her waist too small for the tastes of the 
gentlemen. She could not be the married belle she 
aimed at, and this was gall and bitterness to her heart. 
But as I said before, the ladies rule the day every- 
where, and Mrs. W. did not take with the ladies. 
This was her downfall. Undoubtedly the gentlemen 
would have paid her attention, but at Saratoga the 
gentlemen of the higher circles dare not make a move- 
ment outside of the charmed coterie to which they 
have been admitted ; they are slaves to certain female 
Leaders^ and, if 1 were not a poor hair-dresser, I would 
not hesitate to say they are cowards under petticoat 
government. They dare not pay attention to a lady 
out of a particular set, for fear of being black-balled, 
no matter how meritorious the lady may be, and this 
is a well understood thing at Saratoga. But gentle- 



IN niGII LIFE. 63 

men do not know how contemptible they make them- 
selves by this servile deference to certain ton women. 
And these very women do not know how much good 
they could do, in place of the evil they yearly commit, 
by paying respectful attention to really clever persons, 
who are nevertheless weak enough to desire their no- 
tice. The unfortunate lady of the fifteen trunks and 
the hundred and fifty dresses, was unsuccessful with 
the ton^ and so threw herself away upon a fashion- 
able Lothario, whose name has figured with hers in 
public print since, to the scandal of all the world. 
He saw her craving for excitement, and won her afiec- 
tions. She went to Europe for her health — which is 
the fashion now-a-days — where her husband left her 
in care of a physician. The lover soon followed. A 
season was passed in Paris, a superb wardrobe got 
up, and the next summer saw them again at Saratoga, 
the lady making five toilets a day, as usual, and wear- 
ing shoes and gloves very much too small for her 
hands and feet. Her next winter at the South was a 
tolerable success, but Saratoga was always a failure 
with her. -Many ladies were as critically situated, 
however, in love affairs as Mrs. W., but, managing 
their cards with more shrewdness than she did, they 
passed the ordeal less harmfully. For instance, there 
was among the belles of that very season a very 
young, beautiful and newly-married lady, with an old 
rich husband. His wealth enabled her to carry on a 
magnificent career, and she did n't care a fig for the 
tyrant women of the ton. She had a circle of her 
own, who hovered about her perfectly indifferent to 
all others. Her coachman, footman and servants 
were all in livery. The husband was a merchant, de- 



64 A hair-dresser's experience 

voted to ins business, but rushed up to Saratoga every 
Saturday night, to console his lovely wife, who was, 
by the by, very 7niicJi more consoled all the week in 
his absence; but she did not let him know that. The 
Monday morning cars took away the husband to his 
business, and brought back her weekly consolation in 
the shape of a favorite lover, who as regularly disap- 
peared in the Saturday evening cars. It was curious 
to see the sober dress and quiet habits of the lady 
while the poor old husband was by ; and the transition 
to gayety was just as curious when the husband was 
gone and the lover came. Sometimes, it is true, sus- 
picions of her affection occurred even to him', but all 
disappeared before her devoted attentions to his com- 
fort, and her well -disguised penchant for anybody 
else. Her beauty fascinated him, and her arts de- 
ceived him to perfection. The utter indifference of 
this lady to her loving old husband, was, however, a 
well-established fact at Saratoga, though she managed 
the thing too dextrously to occasion anything more 
than whispers here and there. But this was only one 
affair among a thousand 1 could name, just as well 
carried on, at Saratoga as other places, public and 
private. 

Our American ladies are greatly taken by hyfalutin 
prefixes to names I they perfectly glory in being gal- 
lanted by counts and dukes, but the affections of 
European noblemen are generally pretty well frittered 
out by the time they are of age, and they rarely seek 
A?nerican wives, except to recruit their fallen fortunes, 
Saratoga is full of this sort of interesting strangers 
every season. Sometimes it happens they are married 
and bring their countesses and duchesses along ; but 



IN HIGH LIFE. 65 

if tliey do^ they don't know how to behave them- 
sleves as they ought ; they are generally a very quar- 
relsome set of people, whose domestic fights are pro- 
verbial. But the foreign ladies are mostly well edu- 
cated and accomplished; while their husbands are 
jealous and eat garlic. The ladies appreciate the true 
nobility of our American gentlemen, who do not eat 
garlic^ and hence there are occasionally very audible 
fusses, when these delectable counts and countesses 
retire for the night to the solitude of their private 
apartments. 

But very queer domestic scenes take place, even 
among Americans, at Saratoga. Many remember the 
circumstance of the married lady who roused the 
whole hotel by her screams of murder and fire, upon 
a midnight occasion, and threw a loaded pistol over 
the door into the hall, declaring that her husband had 
threatened her life with it ; they remember also how 
the door was burst open, and the husband found 
quietly in bed, both of them declaring that nothing 
but civilities of the most proper character had passed 
between them ; and also how, to the great astonish- 
ment of everybody, the pair had left the hotel by sun- 
rise the next morning, and were found quietly break- 
fasting at Congress Hall, as though nothing had hap- 
pened. 

This was a queer j9n'?;«^(S incident, but one night an 
awful general panic occurred in the hotel, occasioned 
by the cry of fire. Ladies in every variety of dis- 
habille rushed into the halls like so many scared 
ghosts and witches ; and I was then particularly 
struck with the transformation made by dress in the 
fair habitues of Saratoga. One of the most beautiful, 



G6 A iiair-dresser's experience 

for example, among the day promenaders, was cer- 
tainly the ugliest woman I ever saw, in undress. In 
her fright she had hastily gathered up some valuables, 
among which was a full set of false teeth, with which 
she rushed into the hall ; but when the alarm was 
over, and she returned to her room, she found, alas! 
that, among other things, she had dropped her false 
teeth, and what on earth should she do ? Unfortu- 
nately for her, they had fallen into the clutches of a 
rival of hers in a love affair^ were retained by the 
lady and shown to the lover, to the utter downfall of 
the bereft belle. The lover at lirst doubted the story ; 
but as she remained in her room for days after the in- 
cident, and subsequently fled suddenly from Saratoga, 
his belief was coniirmed, and the lover fled also from 
both the toothless woman and the ungenerous exposer 
of the defect — to be heard of no more, that season at 
least. It was easy to replace the teeth, however, and 
the owner of them flourished the next year at Cape 
May as brilliantly as ever. 

The next excitement was that of a young man of 
high rank, and a guest in the hotel, being caught rob- 
bing the safe of money and valuables, and being hur- 
ried away by his parents from open disgrace, in the 
middle of the night. Evil doers would oftentimes be 
terribly nonplussed if there were no night and no 
darkness ; but misdeeds are transacted by day as well 
as by night. 

There came a lady during that season to Saratoga, 
with her husband, mother, sister, and a gentleman 
whom report said was the married lady's lover. The 
gentleman was a Baltimorean, and flourished exten- 
sively with the aforesaid lady until people of position 



IN HIGH LIFE. 67 

began to arrive from both Kentucky and Maryland, 
when they quieted down a little, and became suddenly 
more circumspect in their conduct. Still there were 
whispers about the parties. 

But Saratoga is a queer place, and the married 
belles and beaux of certain 'parvenu cliques play the 
strangest games during the watering seasons. For 
instance, they are fond of "euchre;" but a euchre 
party is generally a married belle's excuse for a supper 
party to her lover and a few female friends with their 
lovers. These parties are generally given in the ab- 
sence of the husbands, but the husbands have to foot 
the bills, which are often very long, and the occasion 
of dreadful matrimonial squabbles. Still these people 
go, year after year, to the watering-places, getting on 
somehow or other, with their husbands and their 
lovers, theu'dear knows how. 

There was one lady who glittered throughout a 
whole season in jewelry that was the admiration and 
envy of all who beheld it ; but the lady remaining 
unusuall}'' long at the Springs, the owner of the jewels 
posted off to Saratoga to see what had become of her, 
taking his wife with him, as he did -not wish to be 
seen talking with the ladj^ alone, for fear of exposing 
her, knowing she had passed all summer as a person 
of great wealth. The lady treated the jeweler's xirifc 
very uncivilly^ which she need not have done, for 
Saratoga at that time was greatly ruled by jewelers, 
brokers, pillmakers, dressmakers and servants. How 
the flareup was settled between them, I know not ; 
but the lady was not politic. People never lose any- 
thing by being polite, especially to those in whoso 
power they have placed themselves. I do not say 



68 A HAIR- dresser's experience 

they should be servile, but politeness costs nothing^ 
and often gahis a good deal. 1 myself upon several 
occasions dressed the hair of a person who had once 
been my fellow-servant, and though she then had her 
carriage and livery, she certainly lost nothing by 
being kind and polite to me. I do not intend to con- 
vey the idea by this, that I should have exposed her 
former humble position, if she had been otherwise,' 
but I repeat that she lost nothing by her politeness. 

I could have pointed out the daughter of a fish- 
man, in Washington Market, N. Y., in one of the 
greatest dashers at Saratoga, if I had chosen ; and in 
another daslier, who was the wife of a man in high 
position, the former keeper of a house of ill-fame ; 
but though she did not obtain access to the high 
circles of Saratoga, she conducted herself with perfect 
propriety, and oiTended no one in any \^ay. It is, 
though, astonishing to me how such people rise in the 
world as they do, and link themselves to respectable 
circles. 

There is but little that has passed at Saratoga for 
years, that I have not known myself; even the vil- 
lage has its romances, and the hair-dresser is every- 
where chatted with, and confided to. Indeed, I have 
often wished I could absent myself from conversations 
that I knew ought to be confidential, and that I had 
no business to hear ; but I could not tell ladies to shut 
their mouths, and hence I was much oftener the re- 
ceptacle of secrets than I desired to be. I often 
wished that they had better sense ; thougli, after all, 
I did not care much what they did^ so they paid me 
my wages. I could not help laughing, though, some- 
times ; and I was particularly amused at a quarrel 



IN HIGH LIFE. 69 

bct\Veen four married belles, about one poor unmar- 
ried beau, who had somehow or other undertaken to 
please them all, and ended by pleasing neither, not 
having tact enough to keep one from being jealous 
of the other. 

But society is gradually changing its tone at Sara- 
toga ; the old elite set of ten and fifteen years ago, 
■who reigned in queenly style, are passing away, and 
seeking more quiet resorts ; some still remain, but not 
enough to keep up the old aristocratic prestige of the 
place, as is always the case when circles swell to too 
large an extent. 

I hope the few incidents mentioned by me in these 
pages will injure no one. I merely write them out 
for the amusement of those who may wish to indulge 
themselves in a little gossip which has no evil inten- 
tion in the world. My anecdotes are not intended to 
have any connection one v/ith the other at all ; and, 
as I said in the beginning, I hope my readers will ex- 
cuse my rambling, desultory style. Some who were 
at Saratoga at the time of the following occurrence, 
may be amused to have it recalled to them, and as I 
shall call no names, I trust I shall do no harm. 

In 1853, there came to Saratoga a wealthy widow, 
with her aunt. A gentleman visiting Saratoga, saw 
her, courted her, and married her. The next season 
they came to Saratoga again, where, when they had 
first met, all had been so bright to both — but now 
clouded over with discontent and misery. The aunt 
was still with her, and they seemed to cling to each 
other with great devotion, which I thought a little 
odd, until I saw the changed character of the hus- 
band ; he dissipated in every way, and coming in 



70 A hair-dresser's experience 

drimk one day, to his wife's room, threw himself upon 
the bed in a disgusting condition. She was reading 
at tlie time, and continued doing so, until he fell into 
a profound sleep, when she drove off to the Lakes in 
company with a gentleman of their party. In a short 
time he awoke, started wildly up and called for his 
wife ; flew about in every direction asking for her, 
and when told she had driven to the Lakes, ordered a 
span of fast horses, and drove after her with all speed, 
his dress disordered, and his hat blown off, which he 
did not mind. His wife, who was sitting upon the 
gallery of the Lake Hotel, saw him coming, and de- 
sired the gentleman who was in her company, to leave 
her, which he did ; when the husband approached her 
in an infuriated manner, and ordered her to get into 
his buggy. In starting off hurriedly, he dropped his 
whip, jumped out to get it, and being evidently very 
mucli intoxicated, she desired a couple of gentlemen 
whom she knew, to drive her back to Saratoga, where 
she arrived a long time before her husband, who was 
brought home by somebody else. Not being able to 
find out by questioning who had driven his wife home, 
he offered a hundred dollars reward — which he pla- 
carded upon the columns of the house — to any one 
who would inform, him who had been her escort ; but 
no one came forward, as he expected, and steeping 
his senses deeper and deeper in liquor, he finally went 
to bed, leaving his wife the most sorrowful and morti- 
fied of human beings. At length she by some means 
procured morphine and drank it to put an end to her 
griefs ; but only took enough to endanger her life, 
without destroying it. The husband was frantic at 
this, and tried in vain to rush from the apartment in 



IN HIGH LIFE. 71 

which the proprietor had had him confined ; physi- 
cians were sent for, and the greatest excitement pre- 
vailed in the house ; but the lady recovering after a 
few days, sent for me, paid me my wages, and said 
she intended getting a divorce from him as quickly as 
possible. I, of course, never expected to see those 
two people together again. But, bless your heart, 
dear reader, they breakfasted together one morning, 
and went off on the cars as loving as a pair of turtle 
doves. I ought not to have been in the least surprised 
at this, for 1 had known several cases as strangely in- 
consistent before. 

I knew a man who pinched his wife when they were 
alone together, and told her he did not love her, and 
tortured her in every way imaginable ; while in com- 
pany you would have thought him the most devoted 
of husbands and lovers. He was positively cruel; 
and I threatened to inform her mother of his conduct, 
when she implored me not to do so, saying, " Charles is 
only a little hasty ; don't tell anybody about it, langy," 

Watering-places betray many characters, and much 
misery, that would never be found out, if people who 
certainly hiow they inust cut a ridiculous figure, and 
make an entire failure of it, would only be wise 
enough to stay at home. Envy, hatred and malice 
all show themselves at watering-places. 

I remember one summer there was to be a fancy 
ball, at which it was expected Miss H., of Bal- 
timore, would shine pre-eminent in dress and manner. 
Her figure was elegant, and her toilet exquisite ; but 
it happened that on the evening of the ball news came 
of the death of an intimate friend of hers in Cincin- 
nati, which, by unanimous consent of her acquaint- 
6 



72 A nAIK-DEESSER's EXPERIENCE 

ances, was to be kept from her until after the ball ; but 
there was a gentleman who had made up his mind 
that his two daughters might stand some chance of 
shining on that occasion, provided Miss H. could be 
kept out of the ball-room ; so he slyly went and told 
her of this death, knowing at the same time how 
much her friends desired she should not know it, but 
the daughters did not make much of a sensation after 
all — there was too much brilliancy elsewhere. Miss 
J,, as the Morning Star, in a spangled illusion robe, 
with a diamond star upon her forehead, was lovely. 
Miss F. F., from Virginia, shone as Night in black 
spangled illusion and a diamond tiara. Mrs. W., of 
New York, in a blue moire antique, covered with point 
lace and flounces, and diamonds among her massive 
curls, was superb. Miss A., of Augusta, Ga., as a 
Flower Girl, was spoken of as the loveliest among the 
lovely. 

A season or so rolled on, and the ladies grew very 
tired of fancy balls. This was not regretted by the 
])roprietor, as they were very expensive, and required 
a great deal of preparation. The whole house had to 
be illuminated, and the garden and trees filled with 
colored lights. 

Full-dress balls succeeded the fancy balls, and in 
the hight of the season at Saratoga the ball-room pre- 
sented a magnificent sight. The wealthiest persons 
in tlie country were there congregated, each trying to 
outvie the other in magnificence and costliness of ap- 
parel. The jewels that sparkled amid fine laces and 
rich silks were only outshone by the beauty of those 
they adorned. The proud lady of fashion was there, 
who, having outlived all her better feelings, was only 



IN HIGH LIFE. 73 

happy, only really existed amid such scenes ; and near 
her the young metropolitan beauty, brilliant in appear- 
ance, but in feeling almost as old and heartless as her 
companion ; while not far off could be seen the belle 
of some small city, blushing, beautiful, trembling, 
showing plainly, in her innocent countenance, how un- 
used she was to such scenes of splendor. Among the 
gentlemen were some celebrated over the whole coun- 
try for their talents — men of high station and ability ; 
others widely known on account of their great wealth 
or their energy in business ; and occasionally one 
could see in the crowd a few well-dressed, handsome 
gentlemen, apparently intellectual, exceedingly agree- 
able in conversation, and polite in manner, yet mostly 
avoided by ladies and gentlemen. These are the for- 
tune-hunters, many of whom every season congregate 
at Saratoga, staying from the beginning of the season 
until the end in search of wealth. Even then they 
are often able to leave only when some friend is kind 
enough to step forward and pay their bills, or they 
leave their whole wealth — their trunks — in the pos- 
session of the proprietor. 

A description of some of the dresses worn at one 
of the full-dress balls may not be uninteresting to 
some of my lady readers. Two ladies, protegees of 
Mrs. Captain H., attracted general attention. One 
was dressed in pink, flounced ; each deep flounce had 
on the edge a small flounce, fringed ; her hair arranged 
a la Pompadour, with pearls. The other's dress was 
blue, and made in the same way. She had a feronia 
of carbuncles, a necklace of the same ; her hair put 
np a la Grecque, and bracelets and ear-rings of car- 
buncles. They were called, during the evening, the 



74 A HAIR-DRESSER 8 EXPERIENCE 

Southern belles. One was Aliss II., li-om New Or- 
leans, the only daughter of a wealthy gentleman ; the 
other, Miss 0., was from Georgia. Mrs. H.'s dress 
was silver-gray silk, with flounces of very costly black 
lace, a full set of pearls. She and her protegees were 
the light of the evening. Mrs. O., who is known 
throughout the United States for her elegance and her 
husband's talents, was dressed in a rose de clienie silk, 
with flounces edged with blond. Her ornaments 
were rubies and diamonds. She used her fan with 
more grace than any lady I have ever seen. Mrs. D., 
of Boston, had on a white silk dress, with over-dress 
of elegant Swiss, flounced ; each flounce fluted and 
edged with costly lace. She looked really elegant. 

The most beautiful dress in the ball-room that sea- 
son was worn by Miss D. It was a very handsome 
India muslin. She was not called the belle of the 
evening, but belle of the season. She was not only 
beautiful and graceful, but so winning and attractive 
in her manners, so amiable and lovely, that the helle- 
inckers^ who picked all to pieces, could not find any- 
thing to say against her. As to her mother and 
father, whenever they came to Saratoga they were 
sought after by every one. It was like mother, like 
daughter. She was difl'ercnt from the most of New 
Yorkers, for they generally think the Western people 
wild until they happen by chance to visit our Queen 
City of the West, and many of them are then thrown 
in the back ground. My readers all know every city 
has a belle, but we have one that is not only a city 
belle, but a United States belle — Miss G. From her 
girlhood until now I have never seen any change in 
her. Not only is she beautiful, but always mild, gen- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 75 

tie, amiable and lovely, and remarkable for her tal- 
ents and superiority of education. 

An occurrence came under my observation this sea- 
son that shows how trifling a circumstance can almost 
destroy the character of an innocent girl. A young 
lady from one of the Eastern cities came to Saratoga 
under the protection of her friend, a married lady, 
living in the same city. After the latter had staid 
her time, and was going home, Miss — wrote to her 
guardian to allow her to stay longer. The consent 
was given, should she find a suitable person to stay 
with. Two families having just arrived with whom she 
was well acquainted, she remained under their protec- 
tion as long as they staid. When they left for New- 
port she went with them. On their leaving Newport, 
she wished to stay there a little longer, and was put 
in the charge of a married lady, who paid every at- 
tention to her. 

She there became acquainted with a gentleman who 
paid her a great deal of attention. They in a short 
time were engaged to be married. This so enraged 
a number of ladies that he had for years past been 
paying attention to that they went to work to slander 
her. They were not satisfied with watching and 
peering around themselves, but set the servants of the 
hotel to watch her too. She having received a letter 
from her guardian, made an appointment with this 
gentleman to walk on the beach early in the morning, 
when she would show him her letter concerning their 
marriage. 

It was a very common occurrence for ladies to walk 
on the beach as early as six o'clock. She being 
young, did not see any impropriety in his coming for 



76 A hair-dbessee's experience 

her to her room at that hour. She was looking over 
her letters when lie came, so she asked him in and 
handed him the letters to look over. While he was 
reading them the door was opened by a servant, 
who informed the proprietor that this gentleman had 
been in her room all the night. 

Those would-be ladies, who were so envious of her, 
were exulting at her supposed downfall, because she 
was young, beautiful, wealthy, and connected with 
some of the best families in the country. The lady 
under whose care she was sent her immediately home, 
supposing that was the best thing to be done. On 
her arrival, her particular and best friend, Mrs. — , 
who was a belle at the time at Saratoga, and is known 
and sought after at all the watering-places, went im- 
mediately to Newport to see what the trouble was. 
On her arrival she made inquiries, and found there 
was neither more nor less the matter than her engage- 
ment with this gentleman, who had disappointed 
several ladies, and were angry that she should succeed 
where they had failed. However, they were married 
in a short time after, and went to Europe. 

It is not often young people who try to blast each 
other's characters ; it is the married belles who do so. 

The season of 1857 was very gay at Saratoga. 
Ladies were there from all parts of the country. I 
missed but very few of the gay throng who for many 
seasons had added so much to.the gayety of the place 
by their presence. There was a young married lady 
there under tiie care of her mother ; her husband was 
not along. There was also at the hotel a gentleman 
who had formerly been a lover of hers, and he now 
paid her so much attention as to create quite a talk. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 77 

This went on for a week or so; then the time came on 
that her husband was to come, when the young gal- 
lant took his departure. He could not stay and see 
one he had loved so fondly, and felt as though she 
ought to have been his, loved by another. 

All this gave room for a good deal of talk. Many 
slandered her behind her back, while to her face they 
were all kindness and love. I once asked a lady why 
she did so ? Her reply was, " She is so beautiful and 
gentle I love to talk to her." I said, " Excuse me, 
but I think it is her carriage and horses you admire, 
as well as herself." This lady was often out riding 
with her, though she slandered her. 

That season Saratoga was blessed with musicians. 
There was a young gentleman from New Orleans 
there who was famous for fascinating all the ladies, 
both married and single, in New Orleans. He then 
went to New York, and was a teacher there. He 
gave lessons in some of the higher schools. He then 
came to Saratoga. While there the ladies kept him 
playing so much that he ruined all the pianos. At 
length the proprietor ordered him to leave, and I 
assure you it was amusing to see them go after him 
to the other hotel, while the ladies there were quite 
indignant that the ladies from the United States 
should come there and monopolize their favorite mu- 
sician. 

There are hundreds of people go to watering-places 
from their own birth-place to meet with those that, 
had they stayed at home, they never would have 
known. I know some in New York and Philadel- 
phia who have spent hundreds and thousands of dol- 
lars going to watering-places to make the acquaintance 



78 A hair-dresser's experience 

of others from their own city. Some have succeeded, 
but others I know never can. In Philadelphia there 
is a certain set that no money, no dashing, not even 
the influence of friends, can get into but their own 
circle. I knew some young ladies in Washington City 
who gave a large ball every year during the sitting of 
Congress, and invited every person of note and every 
stranger of rank in the city — all would go. These 
self-same young ladies, on making a visit to Philadel- 
phia, could not or would not be received into that 
clique. I have myself heard the ladies say they could 
not ask them. I asked the ladies why did they go to 
their balls. Their reply was, they were in Washing- 
ton, and wished to see the strangers from different 
States. 

1 was quite amused one day, on looking out of the 
window on the promenade, to see a lady, who had al- 
ways something disagreeable to say of a certain Doctor 
or his wife, in close conversation with the Dr.'s lady, 
and seeming to forget how little she thought of her ; 
the next day when I went to comb her hair, I asked 
her how she could talk to, and seem so pleased with 
one she looked down on so much. She told me every 
one here thought so much of them, and the Doctor 
was at the head of all the gayety and amusements 
going on, so while there she did not care; at home, 
she would not know them, only as some others did. 
call on them. Then, when they returned the call, 
not be at home; and when they gave large parties, 
they never noticed them ; but, she said, she understood 
they intended to sell out their establishment and go 
to Europe. On their return they were going on the 
must fashionable street in Philadelphia, and I suppose 



IN HIGH LIFE. 79 

then we will have to call on them as they will be big 
folks. 

I will tell you what I had the independence to do ; 
I just waited till I got another customer or two, and 
then I forgot her hour. There are a great many 
ladies who love to speak evil of each other, and should it 
be spoken of again, they would pack it on to the hair- 
dresser. 

There came along a gentleman, his wife, child, ser- 
vant and dog. I was particularly and immediately 
sent for. When 1 went to her room, I wondered how 
she came to know me, and asked her. She told me 
of many ladies whose hair I dressed, and called over 
their names. I thought she might be one of their 
visitors, but I had my doubts, till I asked these ladies, 
one after another; none of them knew her, as she had 
run up to them and asked who dressed their hair. 
They said they did not like her, and left her very 
soon. 

On my going to her next day, she commenced a 
conversation, by saying she did not like the hotel, the 
attendants, the people, nor anything ; her husband 
was going to take private board ; was going to take 
this house and that, and so on. In the meantime I 
found out she had been, for many years, in a Camille 
boarding-house in New York. On learning so much 
of her character, I went right in to her, and told her 
who and what she was, and advised her to be quiet 
and keep her room, as both ladies and gentlemen 
had arrived who knew them the last place they 
were at ; but, before the proprietor could send in his 
bill, they had left. 

Iler husband was a gentleman ; how he got in such 
7 



80 A hair-dresser's experience 

a scrape I don't know, for he looked careworn and 
much troubled. To this day, in a milliner's store, a 
dry good's store, or a confectionary, wherever she can 
find any person who does not know her history, she 
will step up and commence a conversation, presuming 
on her husband's family. The proprietor or some of 
the salesmen will put the lady on her guard. She 
dressed elegantly, and used good language. Dress is 
the go now ; I know a great many people at Saratoga, 
not much better than she was, but who had good 
friends and dressed fine, vho were never noticed. 
There comes every year, to the States, a mysterious 
lady, who always has a book or newspaper, reading. 
She was never seen talking with any one till the last 
season, when there was an old gentleman, who usually 
sat on the opposite side of the promenade, and occa- 
sionally there would a bow pass between them. 

The last season, at Saratoga, there was no head, or 
leader, and it was really amusing to see every one 
making efi'orts to establish a reputation as leader. At 
this time it was very ga> and lively ; many mothers 
brought their young sons there; it was laugliable to 
see the young roosters strutting about, with their stand- 
ing collars, making love to the ladies, some of whom 
were old enough to be their mothers ; but, as beaux 
were scarce, they had to take young or old. as they 
had to have beaux. 

On my first doing business in Saratoga, there were 
many gentlemen there from New York, and other 
places, who were clerks and bookkeepers, who could 
not stay long, as the board at Saratoga was more than 
they could atlbrd to pay, but they certainly were a 
very gay set, and kept the place alive. 1^ 



IN HIGH LIFE. 81 

There was a goodly number of gentlemen there who 
bore the reputation of being rich, but it was far from so, 
as the club-room defrayed their expenses, as often as 
some young greenhorn would come there and leave as 
much behind as would keep these old hands in style 
as long as they pleased. 

In August, there came a young gentleman from one 
of our large cities, and I know two families staid 
there at his expense ; one of them was a little better 
satisfied this year, than the year previous ; this season 
he was more with his family, and caught more green- 
horns than last year, and paid the madame so well 
that she did not awaken all the neighbors scolding 
him, as she had done the year before, when he came 
home late. 

Such families as these did not alwa3's stop at the 
United States, for 1 know numbers of them who used 
to stop at other places until their daughters were 
grown up, and then would come to the States ; for it 
is a well-known fact that there is a style at the United 
States no other hotel there possesses. 

If there is a large family, and it is too expensive 
for all to board at the United States, one is sure to 
board there, and the balance at some cheaper place, 
so that they can have the liberty of the parlor and 
grounds. Sometimes a lady gets mad, but if she has 
a son or a cousin, he will board there, and she some- 
where else, so that she can come and go at pleasure. 

One evening, during thecrowded season, when there 
were about fifteen hundred people at the hotel, I con- 
cluded to look around and see how such a vast crowd 
would amuse themselves. First 1 looked into the par- 
lor where two or three hundred people were collected 



82 A hair-dresser's experience 

in orronps of fifteen or twenty, laughing and talking 
with all the gayety and good humor imaginable. 
On the promenade was a large crowd, some walking 
briskly, others leisurely along, chatting and making 
merry ; some arguing on the favorite topics of the 
day, discussing politics, or laying plans for the mor- 
row's amusement. 

From thence I proceeded to the grounds, meeting a 
few couples, who had fled from the crowded rooms to 
the shaded paths, and looking as though they did not 
like having their lonely walks interrupted, I then 
passed the cottages ; in some the families were col- 
lected together, talking and reading, while others 
looked dark and deserted ; in one was quite a company 
assembled, the older persons enjoying themselves with 
singing and music, chatting and laughing, while the 
younger were amusing themselves with childish sports 
and games, seeming a happy little party; in another, 
the habitation of a Spanish count, greatly sought 
after lor his immense wealth, some gentlemen were 
playing euchre; while, before the dim light in the 
next, you could occasionally see a stately figure move 
back and forth. 

These cottages are opposite the business portion of 
the house, so, after leaving them, I concluded I would 
take a look into the club room ; here I was much sur- 
prised to see more white-haired men than young ones. 
Two rooms were well filled, and in them I noticeil 
some gray-headed men, so old and feeble they could 
scarcely get up and down stairs, but still they were 
there, and while the faces of some were as cold and 
immuvable as though their features could never ex 
press an emution ; in the countenances of others could 



IN HIGH LIFE. 83 

be traced signs of the deepest emotion — of hope and 
despair, of sorrow and joy. 

I went to the bar-room, which, like the parlor of the 
club-room, was crowded. A man was playing on the 
harp and singing, some were listening to the music, 
while others were drinking brandy smashes, mint 
juleps, etc., and were ordering them so fast, that I 
could not, for the life of me, tell whether the bar- 
keeper, when he received the money, put half into his 
pocket and half into the drawer, or all into one place 
or tlie other. I then went through a long hall that 
separated the restaurant from the staircase, tiiat led to 
the ball-room. There were six large rooms on each 
side of this hall; the three front rooms were very 
large bed-rooms, the others were private dining-rooms. 
This restaurant was for those of the boarders who did 
not get up at the general breakfast hour, which was 
from eight to ten. Those who did not attend at these 
hours, had breakfast there, and paid extra for it, and 
those wiio are going on the half-past one o'clock train, 
their dinner. 

In the private dining-rooms, on ball nights, the 
managers of the balls have a game supper given 
them, for their trouble in attending to, and getting up 
the ball. On passing through this hall, on that night, 
it was very gay and lively, some carrying refreshments 
to the ball-room, others busy in the preparation of the 
supper for the managers-, all hurrying to and fro, 
talking, laughing, and whispering. 

From here I went up the broad stairs to the ball- 
room. The stairway was lined with spectators, 
anxious to see the beauty and dress of the ball, but 
owing to the ill-nature of the bar-keeper, who gene- 



84 A hair-dkesser's experience 

rally kept the door, many were disappointed at first ; 
in a short time, however, tlie managers came forward 
and threw open the doors ; they would not have tlie 
ladies stifled with heat, to deprive a few people of the 
pleasure of looking in. I afterward found out the 
reason of the bar-keeper keeping the door shut •, gen- 
tlemen from other places, not wishing to participate 
in the gayeties of the ball-room, would give him a 
little some thing, and he would slip them in to look 
on a while, and then slip them out again ; so he 
thought, by keeping the door closed, he would gain 
more for himself. This night the ball-room was 
crowded with beauty and elegance. I noticed a cler- 
gyman, his daughter, and her companion, tliere. The 
first season this reverend gentleman came to Saratoga, 
he was accompanied by a gay young gentleman ; he 
would strut up and down the promenade, with his 
white kids and high collar, during the week ; on Sun- 
day he would preach in the diflerent pulpits, and on 
ball nights, he was in the ball-room. The ladies 
dodged round and peeped at him, thinking he was 
either an old bachelor or a widower; however, he 
managed to get acquainted with some of the bon ton 
of Saratoga, which so perfectly delighted him, that, 
this season, he brought his daughter and her associate. 
Then the gentlemen were all dodging and peeping 
round, as the report had gone out that she was 
wealthy. 

I noticed, that night, she attracted as much at- 
tention as some belles who had been there some ten, 
twelve, or fifteen years. After taking a bird's-eye 
view of the ball-room, 1 passed on to the linen-room, 
which is the housekeeper's department, where the 



IN HIGH LIFE. 85 

chambermaids were all assembled, some perfectly de- 
lighted with the way in which the ladies had treated 
them, others very much annoyed and mortified at the 
crossness and ill-nature of the ladies who fell to their 
lot; others, again, complaining of being tired to death, 
running up and down, getting this thing and that that 
was wanting for the ball. The housekeeper was try- 
ing to console those who had been aggrieved, by telling 
how she had been treated, herself, by some of them. 
I just then made my appearance, and told them where 
there were so many congregated, all could not be 
ladies. 

One of them said, I had the privilege of choosing 
who to work for, and if I did not like them I need not 
work for them, but it was not so with them, as they 
were obliged to, whether they were ladies or not. I 
told her, " Not so, remember the pocket-handkerchief 
scrape." 

A season or two before, a lady had come there and 
lost her pocket handkerchief. She blamed the cham- 
bermaid, and had her almost beside herself about it; 
she said it was worth twenty-five or thirty dollars — 
that it had been taken out of her room only that day. 
The chambermaid cried, and said, since she had been 
on that floor there had no such charge been made 
against her. 

A gentleman, who roomed opposite, hearing the 
noise, opened his door, called the chambermaid, and 
asked what was the matter. She told him, and with 
tears in her eyes, said the lady blamed her, and what 
a costly handkerchief it was. The gentleman turned 
into his room, and took up a handkerchief that 
had lain on his table for ten days, handed it to 



86 A hair-dresser's experience 

the chambermaid, and told her that was the missino 
article. 

Tiie lady's name was on it, so she could not deny 
it, and when it came to be looked into, it was dis- 
covered the handkerchief, instead of being worth 
twenty-five or thirty, was not worth more than two 
or three dollars. The gentleman had picked it up on 
the stairs, where the lady had dropped it. 

I then passed through the hall, and on till I came 
to the ladies' saloon, where there is a notice up, "ser- 
vants not admitted here." Nevertheless, the notice 
did not do much good, as they usually congregated 
there in spite of all that could be said. The question 
of the merits and demerits of their different ladies was 
the general topic in the room. One of the maids said 
her lady was one of the most popular ladies in the 
ball-room, but was very tyrannical and cross with her 
servants, or those living with her, even to her gov- 
erness, who is refined and every way her superior. 
When she engaged this governess, in New York, she 
promised to treat her as an equal, but when she got 
to Saratoga, she did not wish this young lady to be 
with her friends. When visitors came in, she inva- 
riably said she heard the children cry, or would send 
them all out walking, and in many other ways she 
treated her badly ; her eyes were often inflamed with 
crying, and we are all waiting, she said, till we get 
back to New York, to leave her, coachman, chamber- 
maid, ladies' maid, governess, and all. After the ser- 
vants had finished the discussion of their ladies' merits 
and demerits, they all ran off into the ball-room. I 
then proceeded to the dining-room, Ibnnd everything 
put up and nicely arranged in its place ; then told the 



IN HIGH LIFE. 87 

watchman, who attends to the dining-room, I wanted 
him to go with me to the kitchen, as 1 wanted to see 
how it looked at night. 

We went down, found the French cooks, with their 
white caps on, busy getting up a sumptuous supper 
tor the managers; everything clean and in its place. 
Tlie night scene was quite different from the day 
scene, as, in the day time, I have seen about a hun- 
dred servants standing round, with their white aprons 
on, waiting for the different dishes for those they at- 
tended, while the head cook would serve choice dishes 
to those gentlemen who provided them for themselves, 
game or such like, by that means making a great con- 
fusion among the boarders and waiters, many thinking 
they paid high board and did not get what others did, 
of course not being aware these gentlemen provided 
their own. I then went back to the ball-room, and 
staid there till its dispersion. 

It being late, and the night gloomy, I determined 
to stay all night in the hotel, so I thought I would 
witness the proceedings in the servant's hall. After 
the servants had put their ladies safely to bed, they 
returned to the fifth story to their apartments. About 
tliirty or forty had a regular concert ; some oi' them 
sang well, imitating ladies and gentlemen they had 
heard during the day. In the lower end of the hall 
was a party playing euchre, and from the appearance 
of bottles and glasses, I fancy there was as much 
champaigne, claret, aud good brandy drank there, as 
in the club-room. I was amused, on going forward, 
to hear a toast to the health of Mr. Longwoith 
drank by them, for his good old wine, to say nothing 
of how they came by it. Another set were dancing 



m A HAIR-DRESSER S EXPERIENCR 

and making a tei-rific noise, regardless of those who 
were sick or tired below. A great many messages 
came up from those underneath them, saying if they 
did not cease their noise, they would inform tiie pro- 
prietor; but these did no good, for they kept it up till 
three o'clock in the morning. 

Next morning, when I got up, I felt as though I 
had not slept for a week, but I was gratified to see the 
proceedings of one night in a crowd. On going down 
I met the servants belonging to Mrs. D. and Mrs. M., 
of Natchez. They asked me how I liked the ball ; I 
told them it was elegant. Inquiring if I had seen 
their mistresses, they began praising them very highly, 
saying they were young, beautiful and good ; they 
thought there were none like them in th.e room. I 
told them that was my opinion too. Both these girls 
were slaves, and had been treated kindly, and, as I 
before said, when a slave is treated kindly, no matter 
where they are, they will not leave their masters. 

I have given you a night's scene in a crowd, now I 
will give you a day's scene. After leaving those 
girls, I proceeded to the springs, where I never go but 
once in the season, as I determined to notice what was 
going on that day. 

When I got to the springs, the sun was just rising. 
The dew was yet on the grass, and as the sun peeped 
thr(»ugh the leaves of the trees, and made all glittir 
like diamonds, I thought I had never witnessed f^o 
beautiful a scene. At that instant the band struck up 
"God save the Queen," and in a moment it turned 
to the well known tune, " Hail Columbia." 

All was in perfect unison with my feelings; I 
staid there some time ; saw the difierent ladies 



IN HIGH LIFE. 89 

coming down from the various hotels, some walking, 
enjoying the beauties of nature; some drinking a 
glass or so of the water ; and others going down to 
tiie little circular railroad. 

I amused myself going from one spring to another, 
seeing the different faces of the ladies as they drank 
the water. Some would go round the grounds, which 
are about half a mile, while those who did not take 
the usual walk on the grounds, went home and prome- 
naded the galleries. 

That morning there were between three and four 
hundred people there. It seemed to me they were of 
every nation, people and language under the sun. 
Going home, I saw some of the ladies and gentlemen 
who were at the ball the night before, promenading 
the gallery. The prevailing topic of conversation was 
the beauty and brilliance of the ball. I then went up 
to wait on a lady that I dressed every morning before 
breakfast. 

She told me of numerous ladies and gentlemen who 
had lost their hearts the previous night, among the 
rest were two young ladies I knew came there to get 
beaux. The eldest was very good looking ; she seemed 
to be amiable and artless, and whatever a gentleman 
told her she implicitly believed ; but the younger was 
more shrewd, she believed nothing that was said to 
her unless she was sure it was so. 

I was very glad, indeed, when I knew they had got 
beaux, as I could, I hoped, get their hair dressed with- 
out the interference of their mother. When I was 
dressing their hair, she was all the time telling me to 
make them look well, for Mr. So-and-So had arrived, 
or Mr. This-or-That danced with them, or looked at 



90 A haie-dresser's experience 

them in the ball-room, or they were introduced to Mr. 
Siich-an-One, and she wished them to look their pret- 
tiest, as this was their debut. 

I always did hate to get hold of any one on their, 
first appearance at the springs, unless they were ladies 
of great refinement, and used to a good deal of gayety, 
as, if not, their whole trouble was to look better than 
Miss So-and-So. I know a number of ladies, who ac- 
tually, when they got to the springs, were so dissatis- 
fied with their wardrobe, that they had a full ward- 
robe made up to suit the times. 

Having finished dressing this lady and heard all 
she could tell me, I went down in search of some 
other ladies, who I thought might be through with 
their breakfast. I had engagements with ladies from 
seven in the morning till nine or ten at night, during 
the rush. When I got down I looked into the dining- 
room, and it certainly was a beautiful sight — the ladies 
all dressed in difierent colored morning wrappers. 
One lady I noticed, had on a blue silk with a dotted 
Swiss over it; another a white Thibet, with a large 
cape of the same bound all round down the front, and 
cape with a rich green moire antique ribbon ; another 
a white jaconet, ruffled all round the bottom, up the 
front and the cape, and handsomely fluted, and a pink 
liead dress set gracefully on her head. After looking 
in for a few minutes, I saw some other of my ladies, 
and secured another victim. By the time 1 had fin- 
ished dressing her, breakfast was over, and there was 
a general rush to the promenade and through the 
grounds, I never saw so many little groups, or so 
many promenading before ; and the whole conversa- 
tion was tlie ball, who looked best, and so forth ; while 



IN HIGH LIFE. 91 

those that were not talking were looking out for the 
Saratoga papers, to see what was said about theni- 
selvt'S, and all the news. 

Suddenly I heard a great shout and huzza on the 
stret^t ; I looked out and heard a telegraphic dispatcli 
had come from New York with the intelligence that 
the Atlantic Cable was completed and all right. 
Then came orders for a general jubilee ; some began 
preparing speeches; some getting up difl'erent kinds 
of illuminations ; some doing one thing, and some 
another, but none idle. Through all the excitement, 
I got some twenty-two or three arranged for dinner, 
all dressed in their best for the occasion. 

After dinner, they tried to see how many could go 
to the lakes. I believe there were more carriages out 
that day than had been out for years. After dark, the 
streets were full of bonfires, houses and stores were 
illuminated, fireworks of all kinds were set ofi'; then 
came shouts for speakers ; some called for Washing- 
ton Irving ; some for Mr. Cooley ; some for Mr. 
Randel, of Philadelphia ; some again for Gen. Cad- 
wallader, and many others. Numbers of eloquent 
speeches were made ; all went well till an eminent 
lawyer got up and began quoting Scripture; he got to 
the passage, " He plants his footsteps in the sea, and 
rides upon the storm," — when he could neither tell 
whether the passage was in John, James or Genesis, 
and he made such a faux jpas that it afforded a 
good deal of amusement to the spectators. After the 
speeches were finished, all dressed exquisitely and 
rushed to the ball-room, where they spent a very gay 
and merry evening, all in honor of the laying of tiie 
cable. It was the topic of conversation for a few 



92 A hair-deesskr's experience 

days, till at last, as everything began to get cold, and 
as it were, dead, they were freshened up by the pres- 
ence of three living lords — Lord Grosvenor, Lord 
Cavendish and the lion. Mr. Ashley. They staid for 
several days, playing off on tiie weak minds of some 
of the parents who had young daughters in market, 
and amusing themselves generally, as they were in 
this country to see all that was to be seen, and for 
their amusement, as our young gentlemen do when 
they make the European tour. 

I have often been amused in passing through the 
saloon — which, I have before mentioned, was at the 
head of the stairs, and was mostly used by courting 
characters, as a lady, gentleman or servant would not 
think of stopping one instant there if they saw a lady 
and gentleman in conversation — to see one of these 
young lords and a lady ; his seat was a little higher 
than hers, and she looked up to him, receiving every 
word as if it nourished soul and body, as the dew of 
a summer's evening nourishes a delicate plant. Then 
on going down to the parlor in search of a lady whose 
hour had come to dress her for dinner, I found her 
with another of these lords, occupying a coquette 
seat ; and on a sofa at a little distance, sat the other 
one ; beside him was a married belle from New York ; 
her mother sat on the other side, in perfect admiration 
of her daughter. They were all listening with as 
much earnestness as if they expected to be transfig- 
ured from Miss Whatever-it-might-be, to Lady So- 
and So. 

There were two or three of us hair-dressers who 
were amused at mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, and 
all who had young ladies to chaperon. 'Twas like 



IN HIGH LIFE. 93 

the sound of au old bell — ding-dong, ding-dong — 
'' Make her look pretty, for she might catch this lord." 
I would often smile at the request of some mother or 
chaperon — " Make her look her prettiest." 1 would 
smile and say, '' That is very easy to do." 

Whatever part of the house these lords would be 
in, there th-e ladies flocked, some with one question, 
some another; may-be a question as to the manners 
and customs of England, or the Falace, the Queen, 
the royal children, or anything else to elicit conversa- 
tion ; when they, as replies, would rattle off anything 
they would think of, let it be plausible or not ; and 
sometimes, if the three chanced to be near each other, 
they would throw a sign, as well understood by them 
as the sign of either Mason or Odd-Fellow. 

I was afraid, from the specimens at Saratoga that 
time, these lords would get a false impression of the 
American ladies, as not being sufficiently dignified ; 
but hearing they had sought introductions to our Cin- 
cinnati and New York belles, whom I have before 
spoken of, I knew they would redeem the character 
of those who had laid aside their dignity and run after 
them. After these lords had amused themselves a 
little longer, they left for the wilds of the West. 

I have given you many instances of marriages in 
high life. Now, before leaving Saratoga, I will give 
you a little account of a death in high life. It has al- 
ways been a painful subject to me since. A lady who 
lived in great splendor and elegance, and in her 
queen-like mansion entertained thousands — Madame 
R., of Philadelphia — died at Saratoga in the summer 
of 1858. 

After a flourishing summer, being gazed upon by 



94 A hair-dressek's experience 

hnndreds of her admiring friends, she was strickeif 
down by erysipehis, caught by sitting in the gallery 
one very cold and damp evening. Her husband had 
been sick, and she was very anxious to have a letter 
from him ; so she sat out on the gallery watching for 
a letter. She did not frequent the parlor, as she was 
never known to be there more than five or ten min- 
utes at a time. 

She lay from August till October. Her friends 
were very kind and attentive to her while the visitors 
were there. After the season was over she got worse. 
The house was deserted, and also the cottages, except 
the two little rooms she occupied, with a little stove 
in the corner of one of them. 

Sometimes friends would come with a few grapes, 
flowers or other delicacy for her, which would be sent 
up with the compliments of the sender, and a wish to 
be allowed to see her. A cold, stern voice would be 
heard in reply — " Her compliments, and she does not 
wish to see any person." She had not even the priv- 
ilege to decide for herself, and we all know in severe 
sickness the kind hand of a female friend is very 
soothing. This she had not ; she had no attendant 
but her husband, a man, and a maid servant, and all 
know servants are far from being the same around a 
sick bed as those friends endeared by former associa- 
tions, and who are also in the same circle in life. 

Let my readers picture to themselves a hall two or 
three hundred feet long, where some weeks before 
there had been hundreds or thousands of people pass- 
ing to and fro. All is now deserted — the servants 
turned off. In this immense Iiall is one solitary can- 
dle burning, making darkness the more visible ; two 



IN HIGH LIFE. 95 

fiiZ'nrcs are all that are seen moving out and in to 
those two rooms. Had you occasion to go to the top 
of tlie stairs, you could hear groans of mortal agony, 
with cries of ''Lord, help me! — God have mercy on 
me!" And when any one would do any little kind- 
ness to her to alleviate her sufferings, if but for a mo- 
ment, you would hear the same voice say, " May God 
bless you, my friend ! " 

We all know the comforts of a palace are as nothing 
to one who is struggling in the grasp of death; much 
less the bed and room which is appropriated to a few 
hot summer days. When many in health complain 
of these inconveniences of a watering-place, what 
must they be to one prostrated by sickness and per- 
fectly helpless. 

This lady was noble ; she had made many promises 
what she would do for the proprietor and house- 
keeper, if she survived ; and made provision to have 
all who waited on her, or were kind to her, remem- 
bered. One day she called her husband, and made 
him promise he would buy the very best dress he 
could get in New York city, and present it to the 
housekeeper for her kindness. 

Toward the last, it seemed as if there was some- 
thing on her mind she wished told, but could get no 
opportunity of speaking to any friend. She particu- 
larly washed to see a brother-in-law, but the wish was 
not gratified, as he was not sent for till to© late. She 
often wished to have a dear friend to close her eyes. 

When told her death was at hand, she replied, 
" God's will be done ; but O, I want to see my broth- 
er-in-law." While in the very agonies of death, she 
was closely questioned as to her papers ; she answered 
8 



96 A hair-dresser's experience 

clearly and calmly; told where they were, and how 
to be got at ; and then made arrangements how she 
wished her body disposed of. She said she wished a 
very plain shroud and coffin, and to be buried plain 
and quietly ; she said she came into this world plain, 
and her desire was to leave it the same. 

Her shroud was plain and her coffin of the plainest 
boards. When I think of this lady, her noble heart, 
her many kindnesses, not only to those she was ac- 
quainted with, but to those who required kindness of 
all nations, recur to my memory and renew the grief I 
felt at her death. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 97 



CHAPTER IV. 

LEAVING SARATOGA — BURNING OF THE BAGGAGE OAR 

VISIT TO NEW YORK, 

The season at Saratoga having closed, I had to re- 
turn to Albany to get paid for ray clothes. I had for- 
gotten to mention that the season I have just been de- 
scribing, my baggage had been all burned up on ray 
way to Saratoga. I will now give you a description 
of the circumstance. I had intended stopping at the 
Yellow Springs that season, as many of our aristoc- 
racy were there; but concluded not to do so. I took 
the cars at Xenia for Saratoga, and after riding a day 
and night, when I was just two and a half hours' 
ride from Saratoga, we had stopped about ten or fif- 
teen minutes at a little place called St. Johnsville. 

The most of the passengers were asleep, but as I 
had scarcely ever slept on the cars, I chanced to be 
looking out of the window, and at the raoraent envy- 
ing the gentleraen in a refreshment saloon drinking 
hot coflee, when I saw a man walk hurriedly out of 
the saloon. He glanced with a look of alarm toward 
the foremost cars, and immediately hallooed " lire." 

1 called to a number of ladies and gentlemen sitting 
around, and told them the cars were on fire. They 
laughed at me, and said I must be dreaming. I then 
threw up the window, and looking out, could just see 



98 A hair-dresser's experience 

the least perceptible smoke coining out of the baggage 
car. I then threw a shawl around me and went out. 
Even then, although some moments had elapsed since 
the alarm, there was but little fire ; but no person 
seemed to be trying to put it out, or endeavoring to 
check it. 

1 saw no one doing anything except the express- 
man, who was striving to save his own propert}', and 
lie having succeeded, it amused me very much, though 
in trouble myself, to see him quietly take his seat on 
his chest; and thinking he had done sufficient, now 
his little property was saved, he would allow no one 
to come near him. 

I then went into a room in the house and having 
sat down, tried to compose myself. I felt ver}' badly, 
till I heard the conversation of those around me ; 
many were in great distress, and were crying — they 
had lost their all. I then felt blessed that I had still a 
little something at home, and was going where I could 
make something too. 

Others had important papers and other valuables 
with them, who felt very badly about their loss. I 
myself was not among the fortunate ones, as I had 
some things no money could pay me for. 

On the next seat to me was a poor old woman, who 
had lost everything she had in the world. She had 
been to see some friends, and got from them yarn to 
knit stockings and socks for sale, to help her get over 
the winter. Her little bundle was burned up; and 
she was so much affected by the accident, that though 
my own losses did not force a tear from my eyes, I 
wept freely for her. 

We soon got another locomotive and went on. In- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 99 

stead of turning; to the left for Saratoga, we turned to the 
right for Albany, the grand office being in that place. 

On arriving in Albany, I went to a well known fam- 
ily there — that of Mr. R. K. I was received and 
treated by this family in such a way as, should I live 
thousands of years, I never could enough express my 
gratitude to them for their kindness. 

At nine o'clock I went down to the office, where the 
first of the ofiicers I met was Mr. F. I was requested 
to come back on Monday morning. I went, and was 
again requested to call on Tuesday. While sitting 
there, I saw the old woman whom I before spoke of 
as having been so much afflicted, talking to Mr. F., 
and crying very sorely. After they had settled with 
her, she came along and told me she hoped they would 
do better by me than they had done by her, as she lost 
her all and got little or nothing for it. 

On telling me the amount she received, I was really 
ashamed for the company who could treat a poor old 
woman in such a manner, but at once determined they 
should not treat me so meanly. Their will was good, 
but thanks to my own perseverance, they could not. 
I went on Tuesday as requested, when they told me 
Mr, W. was not yet returned from Lake George. I 
went again on Wednesday, when I found him at home. 

He was a tall, thin gentleman, with jet black hair 
and dark eyes — had the appearance of one who would 
think a good deal and say but little. I at once read 
the man's heart, and read it well, as I was not disap- 
pointed. He sent me again to Mr. F.'s apartment, 
who wished me to call again, but I told him I had 
my customers in Sarat(>ga, and must go on there. He 
sent me back to Mr. W. ag-ain, who decided to give 



100 A hair-dresser's experience 

me two hundred dollars, which Mr. F. thought was a 
great deal too much for me to handle, and thought one 
hundred enough, 

1 took the hundred and went to Saratoga; there I 
found many and warm friends ; many of them wished 
to raise a subscription for me, but I would not allow 
them, as I said the railroad was able to pay me, and 
I meant that they should do so. I received more 
kindness and attention from the proprietor and house- 
keeper than I ever did before. It seemed as though 
every one wanted to do something for me. 

On the 12th of September I went back to Albany 
to get the balance of my money. It was the 18th be- 
fore I got away from there. They seemed all per- 
fectly astonished at the list of my clothes. Mr. F. 
was aghast at the idea of my paying thirty-five dol- 
lars for a moire antique dress, and said his wife never 
had a dress cost so much. I laughed, and told him I 
had a dress which cost me fifty dollars, and a mantle 
to suit which cost me fifty more ; and if his highness 
pleased, I had a suit that cost me one hundred and 
fifty dollars. 

It would have amused any person wdio knew the 
extent of my wardrobe, to be behind the door and see 
their wide-open eyes and hear their catched-up breath 
when they came to any articles more expensive than 
others; and when Mr. F. came, on the list, to a vel- 
vet basquine trimmed with deep fringe, he seemed to 
tiiink it was an impossibility; but there were so many 
persons both in Albany and New York that knew the 
extent of mj wardrobe, that he could no longer doubt. 

I was never more anmsed in my life, than at seeing 
the different railroad gentlemen pick up my list, look 



IN HIGH LIFE. 101 

at and shrink from it, as if it were an impossibility 
for a working woman to have such a wardrobe. One 
of them seemed quite horrified at the ver}^ idea of my 
liaving ten silk dresses with me ; but it afforded me a 
good deal of pleasure to let him know I had as many 
more at home ; but I told him that did not make any 
difference, as I had to get paid for what they, in their 
carelessness, burnt up ; and it was nothing but care- 
lessness, as I myself was an eye-witness. 

I was put off from time to time, as the president 
was not there. After being nearly wearied out, I one 
day went and told them I must have my money, or I 
would go to the hotel, take a private room with plenty 
of attendants, and a doctor to attend on me too, as I 
was pretty near sick ; when immediately the one next 
the president gave orders to pay me and let me go; 
but some of the others determined I should stay there 
till the president returned, thinking to weary me out 
and make me go without my money. But they soon 
found they were greatly mistaken ; instead of my 
being the wearied one, they had to suffer. 

Every morning I went down to the office after 
breakfast, staid there till dinnertime; went to din- 
ner, returned, and staid there till night ; and I assure 
you my tongue never stopped, nor was I tired com- 
menting on all that came under my notice — ladies, 
gentlemen, servants and business men of all kinds. 

I finally determined to see the president myself, and 
as they said he would not return from New York for 
a few days, I made up my mind to go on to New 
York and see him, and tliere I went. On my arrival, 
1 found the president had just left for Albany. How- 
ever, though a little discouraged-, I determined as I 



102 A iiair-ubksskr's experience 

was in New York, I would stop awhile, as I Lad nu- 
merous friends there, and pass the time ofi' as pleas- 
antly as possible — which I did going to the operas, 
pie-nics, and clam-bakes. I suppose some of my 
readers would like to know what a clam-bake is. I 
will tell you. 

I was invited to a very beautiful place called Wee- 
hawken ; it was the prettiest place I ever saw in the 
woods for any amusement of the kind. Wlien we ar- 
rived at Weehawken, we found a handsome house tit- 
ted up for the season ; in front was a platform about 
one hundred feet square, with a railing round it and 
seats ; outside this railing was a place erected fur a full 
band of music. All commenced dancing the instant 
they arrived ; some even before they got their things 
off. While I, with some others who did not dance, 
went to see the preparations for cooking the clams. 

I was very much pleased, as it was something I had 
never seen before. First, they put on the ground 
thirty or forty logs of wood, with plenty of kindling; 
when these logs were burning, they put on a cart load 
of large stones ; when these became red hot, they 
covered them with sea-weed. They then took fish of 
all kinds that could be baked sweet, and Irish pota- 
toes, corn in the ear ; rolled them all up in separate 
pieces of paper, laid them on the sea weed ; then they 
made another row of sea-weed, on which about three 
barrels of clams were put; then another covering of 
sea- weed; and so on, till there was a pile four or five 
feet high, and all was in a short time beautifully 
baked. In the meantime there was quite a circle of 
boards erected round this bed of clams, where the 
people stood around and received from those inside 



IN HIGH LIFE, 103 

this circle bowls, butter, pepper aud salt, and any- 
thing else they might require ; then last came along 
a number of forks to eat with. Then commenced 
such an opening of clams, handing round of sweet 
potatoes and corn — ^just which you pleased to have — 
and all seemed to eat as if they were the most elegant 
things imaginable, 

I sat aside and looked on, an amused spectator, as, 
though pressed by many to eat, and told how good 
they were, I could not eat them. There was an im- 
mense kettle of chowder, which they all seemed to 
enjoy very much. Tliey all ate with such a relish 
as if they never had eaten anything so good be- 
fore. There was a good deal of fun and merriment 
going on. 

After they had finished their clams, they took an- 
other dance ; then all retired to dress for a ball which 
was to be inside the house. They kept it up till 
eleven o'clock at night. The refreshment table was 
beautifully and elegantly set. 

Notwithstanding the attention and kindness I re- 
ceived, I got perfectly wearied, when I, with some 
others, started for the boat. When we got to the 
landing, which was a quarter of a mile from the 
house, there was a surprise. Instead of our splendid 
and commodious steamer, towering up to the sky, 
there was a contemptible little tow-boat, that we had 
to look down to find ; she had no cabin, nor any 
shelter from the night. It was certainly a stronger 
and safer boat, but the elegant cabins that were appro- 
priated to excursions were wanting. I was furious, 
and started back to the house with rage ; I outwalked 
them all. On reaching tiic house, the conunittee went 
9 



104 A haik-dresseb's experience 

down to inquire the reason, and found it was a mistake 
of the captain ; he had made a previous engagement. 

Notwithstanding our protestations to the contrary, 
I found we must either go by this little boat, or stay 
all night, I chose the lesser evil, and embarked, but 
from the time I started from the landing at Weehaw- 
ken, till I got to the landing at Spring-street, New 
York, 1 never drew a long breath. On my landing I 
bid adieu to all clam-bakes. 

The next day I went on Fifth-avenue, and all 
around, to see my friends, who were very kind to me 
at Saratoga, New York, or any other place they met 
me. It was at such times as these I appreciated my 
profession. I went through several elegantly fur- 
nished mansions ; they were so perfectly exquisite that 
I thought by some magic power, I was taken across 
the sea to some of the lordly mansions it had been my 
good luck to see while in Europe. When I was a 
child, I remember all the upper part of Fifth-avenue 
nothing but woods. 

1 will now give you a little description of some of 
the mansions of my ladies in New York ; I am proud 
to say my ladies^ as 1 have worked for them so many 
seasons. I will commence with the mansion of one 
well known — G. L,, Fifth-avenue. The hall, to begin 
with, was as large as some of our parlors; on the left 
hand side were two reception rooms, one blue and the 
otiiCT green ; in one of these rooms was a large book- 
case, all rosewood and looking-glass ; it attracted my 
attention, as a most magnificent piece of furniture. 
On the right hand side were two very large parlors ; 
on entering, the first thing that caught my eye was a 
full-length likeness of the host himself. This parlor 



IN HIGH LIFE. 105 

was beautifully frescoed in gay colors. At the back 
of these parlors was another large room, used as a 
dining-room on particular occasions; it ran crosswise, 
and was most elegantly furnished. There was the 
gi-eatest profusion of silver scattered here and there 
through this room, I ever saw in one house in this 
country. On going np stairs, I went from room to 
room until I had counted seven on the second floor, all 
exquisitely furnished in rosewood ; there was a great 
number of beautiful paintings. The third floor was fur- 
nished in mahogany, and was elegant. I then went 
down to the basement. In the front is an office, and 
a large family dining-room. Taken all in all, it is 
a large and magnificent house. I have always been 
treated very kindly by the whole family, from the 
oldest to the youngest ; so, like all travelers, I took 
some refreshment and left. 

I then went down the Fifth-avenue, to the house 
of Mrs. B. Her house is five stories high. In tlie 
basement is a kitchen, a billiard room, and an elegant 
parlor for her servants. In this parlor are mirrors 
larger than I have seen in many parlors even in the 
city. On entering the principal hall, there was a 
most beautiful figure in bronze of a horse as large as 
life. Certainly the attitude and appearance were very 
graceful. The first parlor was green and gold; the 
drapery around the numerous windows was superb. 
The second parlor furniture was the most delicate 
shade of blue and gold ; the wall was the lightest 
tinge of rose and gold; the mantles of the most pure 
and elegant marble, supported on each side by figures 
having the appearance of the old Knickerbockers. 
The tables looked like niasses of i!;old and njarble. 



106 A hair-dresser's experience 

On one of them was a group in Parian marble repre- 
senting Moses and the ark of buUrushes, and Pha- 
raoh's daughter. It was a gem. The third parlor 
was drab and gold furniture, and wall to match. The 
fourth, which was used as a dining-room, was lined, 
instead of papered, with a dark drab morocco; the 
furniture covered with the same. 

. On my going up the stairs, the first room I came to 
was blue and gold. It was a boudoire, or ladies' sit- 
ting room. In each corner was a cabinet, filled with 
shells and all kinds of ornaments and curiosities. The 
doors of these cabinets were looking-glass. This room 
opened into a large and elegant bed-room, with a high 
and massive rosewood bedstead ; all the furniture rose- 
wood, to match. Next came a dressing-room: in 
either corner was an immovable wash-stand toilet, 
beautiful china vase; also, an immovable wardrobe, 
with three doors, the middle one of looking-glass. 
The next was a parlor, with crimson furniture. 
Around the walls were the portraits of the families of 
both Mr. and Mrs. B. This little parlor was exquis- 
itely furnished. It opened into an elegant bed-room 
occupied by Mrs. B. The ceilings were very high, 
and the bedstead tlie highest I ever saw in my life, 
with rich crimson damask curtains, looped tassels to 
match. This opened into an elegant dressing-room, 
the furniture of which was all black walnut; the room, 
instead of being papered, was waiuscotted with black 
walnut. I then went to the third story, and found all 
equally elegant, all furnished with the finest rosewood. 
The fourth and fifth stories were mahogany, instead 
of rosewood furniture, but in other respects the same. 
When I got to the fifth story, you may imagine 1 



IN HIGIT IJFE. 107 

would have wislied for some other way of getting 
down besides walking. • 

I am always delighted to see elegant houses, but 
more particularly when there are elegant ladies to 
grace them, which is the case here; for in every house 
I have been in, in New York, there were elegant ladies 
to adorn them. 

I remember, while in England, once going with the 
ladies' maid of a countess to see the splendid mansion 
of her mistress. Before leaving I wished to see the 
lady who graced such a mansion. To my surprise, on 
reaching the door, I found an elegant carriage, coach- 
man and footman, with certainly the queerest looking 
little lady, all shriveled up, that I ever saw. It made 
me wish I was a fairy, that I could transfer some of 
the fine-looking ladies from my country to grace such 
a mansion. 

The next day I commenced by going on Eighth- 
street, but, in consequence of sickness, I did not go 
through the house. On entering I found the house 
and grounds more like France than any place 1 had 
seen in New York. From there 1 went to Mrs. S.'s 
elegant and princely mansion. It was a large double 
house, with two parlors on one side and a large recep- 
tion-room on the other. Everything in the house is 
chaste and elegant; everything in these parlors is 
magnificent. The chandeliers are the most beautiful 
of any I ever saw. One in the principal parlor has 
sixteen burners. There are beautiful branches over 
the mantles, and at each side, with brilliant lights. 
These, with the pure white of tlie velvet-papered 
walls, give at night some idea of an earthly paradise. 
The dining-room is also a most beautiful room. On 



108 A hair-dresser's experience 

the second floor are four ]iiv^e cliuinbers, elegantly 
furnished, and a most extensive library. Next came 
what I may call a museum, for it certainly was one 
filled with birds, shells, flowers, and animals of every 
description. The green-house was the most beautiful 
I have seen in New York. It was filled with very 
choice flowers, of every shade and color. 

My time was now getting short, and although I had 
numerous invitations from ladies to visit them when I 
went to New York, I did not have time to get further 
into many of their houses than the music- room or re- 
ception-room ; in fact, after leaving the Fifth-avenue 
1 did not see anything to boast of over our own places 
at home, on the inside of the houses, but on the out- 
side they certainly were exquisite. 

I frequently visited the St. Nicholas, where I had 
many lady friends from the South, and also from the 
Queen City. Among the rest of my friends were 
Madame L. and her accomplished daughter. As 
usual, they were great belles. There were two South- 
ern belles there who tried to equal Madame L. and 
her daughter. The ladies themselves were very well, 
but the conduct of their father in past years made them 
too conspicuous. 

Not a hundred years ago, in passing through the 
streets of one of our Southern cities, he met a gentle- 
man on the cross-walk who had been drinking very 
freely. He ran up against this gentleman, who im- 
mediately knocked him down. The next day, when 
the gentleman got sober, he started to the house of 
the father of these young ladies to apologize, though 
not in fault. When the latter met him coming up 
the steps, he blew his brains out. When taken up for 



IN HIGH LIFE. 109 

this murder, to save iiiiiiself, he said this gentleman 
visited his wife at unseasonable hours. This caused 
a separation between them for a long time. 

There were some six or seven hundred people at the 
St. Nicholas at that time. From there I went to the 
New York Hotel, where 1 found all pretty much one 
clique — all fashionable and elegant people ; the house 
and its guests very much like the Hotel Maurice in 
Paris. I then went to visit a lady I had been promis- 
ing to go to see for five or six years, who had been a 
great belle. When I arrived at the house I found her 
husband sick, and did not stay long. On my going 
to visit another lady, she told me what was the mat- 
ter with him, and she seemed perfectly delighted, as 
tiiey were very proud people, and thought few persons 
good enough to associate with. 

A bachelor friend of this gentleman had an elegant 
housekeeper. He told this friend she was inconstant. 
The lady hearing of it, took a carriage, and knowing 
his usual walks, met him coming from the Battery 
right at the Bowling Green, and stepping from the 
carriage, with a cowhide she cut over the face and 
eyes so badly he had to run into a little shop to escape 
from her. She then got into her carriage and drove 
home. He had to remain in the shop till he sent for 
a carriage, and was taken home, where he remained 
for three or four weeks. This made quite a stir among 
the gentlemen. 

I was now tired of my visit to New York, and made 
up my mind to go back to Albany and see after my 
money. I had no idea of being put oflf as I had seen 
others. I left New York in the evening, and the next 
morning I found myself in Albany. I went first to 



110 A hair-dresser's experience 

the railroad office, and found several of the directors 
there, who sent me from one to another until I had 
gone to, it seemed to me, iialf a dozen. I got per- 
fectly furious at this kind of treatment, and as they all 
seemed afraid of the president, I, not being afraid of 
anybody, determined to see the president myself. I 
went fully determined to take him down a little if he 
had been what he was represented to be by the actions 
of his underlings; but, to my surprise, I found him a 
perfect gentleman, in every sense of the word, and he 
seemed to wish to do what was right. Though he did 
not give me what I thought was sufficient to repay my 
losses, yet he gave me more than the others were 
willing to allow. 

I took the three hundred dollars, which was the 
amount I received, and left. I do hope those other 
gentlemen will not continue to think thirty-five or 
forty dollars too much to give for a dress for their 
wives. I wish them all to remember it is not the dog 
that is chained up the tightest, and makes the most 
noise, does the most biting. 



IN niGH LIFE. Ill 



CHAPTER V. 

NEWPORT — THE MAID's STORY. 

I WILL now go back in my narrative to the season of 
1850. I was that year at work at Saratoga. The 
nephew of President Polk coming there with his fam- 
ily, consisting of his wife, two children, a man and 
maid servant, and the lady wishing to have a maid 
and hair-dresser, I gave up my situation at Saratoga 
and went to Newport with them. We stopped at the 
Ocean House. I found the most of the company there 
from Saratoga, as it was a habit with many to go the 
early part of the season to Saratoga and drink the 
water, after which they sought the seaside to bathe. 
I found out this season why many of the ladies liked 
Newport so well; it was because at the latter place 
the ladies and gentlemen were thrown more together. 
As there was but a small hall to promenade in at 
Newport, ladies, gentlemen, children, servants and all 
were together, while at Saratoga the ladies had two 
very large galleries and the gentlemen one, so they 
were never thrown together, except those who had 
families or acquaintances. Tliis season the Gerraania 
Band was there, and I have often been amused, while 
listening to the music, to see the different dresses, dif- 
ferent appearances, and different cliques. 

There were five ladies there from the nei<j;hborhood 



112 A haiu-dkesser's experience 

of PhiladL'lpliici, all of one family. These were all 
beautiful and very elegant in every respect. Though 
the ladies did not associate with them much, they were 
great belles with the gentlemen ; they did not care 
much ibr the ladies' society, as they knew they were 
on the strong side. Three of those ladies were mar- 
ried, one was a widow, and the other a young lady. 

The widow was a tall, elegant looking lady, with a 
pure white skin, which was very much envied. She 
always dressed in the most elegant black silk and 
pearls, or black velvet and diamonds, while the young 
lady dressed in white silk, sleeves looped up like a 
child's, and a sash round her waist. The three married 
ladies were a good deal talked about. I do not be- 
lieve there was any foundation for such talk. Like 
all pretty women, they liked their admirers. 

Many of the ladies came together and declared they 
would not come another season if that family were 
permitted to be there. The proprietor very readily 
comj)lied with the wishes of the mass of boarders, 
and told the ladies they could not be accommodated 
there another season. They did not return for a sea- 
son or two, with the exception of the widow. She 
had alwa3'8 held herself above reproach. She alwaj^s 
came there, and at length gained an entree again for 
them. At this time the widow is reigning at the head 
of society in the South, while the others are reign in;^ 
the same in New York, and are married in the high- 
est families. North and South, many who used to 
think them not good enough to sit at table with, now 
bend low to them this season. There were many 
belles there. One in particular was very gay and a 
great dasher. There was much talk about her, but no 



IN HIGH LIFE. 113 

one can say whether there was any truth or not in 
such stories. 

It was really a delightful sight on a fine clear clay 
to see two or three hundred ladies sporting in the 
water, and chasing the waves in their picturesque at- 
tire ; some with yellow, some white, some crimson 
dresses on. The gentlemen had their hour, but many 
were so delighted to see the ladies in their bathing 
dresses, as they always had seen them so dressed up, 
they would not keep away, until finally the proprietor 
placed officers there to keep them off till their hour 
came. 

I, with my little Miss, went in one day with two or 
three hundred people. My little girl bad on a yellow 
flannel dress, trimmed with red, and my own dress 
was the brightest crimson that could be found. I was 
proud to have them admired as the prettiest dresses in 
the water that season. While in the water, I noticed 
one lady who had on nothing but a simple nightgown ; 
and on coming out she lost her little house. These 
little houses are for changing the dress in, and there 
are three or four hundred of them along the beach. 
She asked many people, but she was such a comical 
figure no one would tell her anything of it. She 
looked to me like a drowned rat. It was plain to be 
seen she was not much accustomed to the seaside. 

On coming out of the water, I saw such an insig- 
nificant little creature, such as we call in our city, 
Count Nobody. He was standing on the cliff, laugli- 
ing immoderately at this poor woman. I felt so angry 
with him I could have gone up one side of the cliff 
and thrown him down the other, but for his insignifi- 
cance. He was there flourishing with a young lady, 



114 A n air-dresser's experience 

while his wife was lying sick at the Irving House, New 
York. Many ladies, both from our city and New 
York, knew this to be the case, but, at such places, 
ladies will receive attentions from men, even knowing 
tliem to be broken sticks. 

In a few days came off a grand dress ball ; I was 
more than proud that my lady was called the loveli- 
est lady in the room. I was amused watching the 
maneuvers of a middle-aged widow lady, from our 
city, of great wealth, elegantly dressed, playing off as 
a young girl of fifteen, with a gentleman from New 
York, nearly of her own age, but dressed as a young 
man of twenty ; they were coquetting and flirting all 
the evening. 

The ball passed ofi' very pleasantly, till near the 
end, when some words occurred between a married 
gentleman and a young one, about a lady from New 
York ; the young gentleman blacked both the eyes of 
the other gentleman, which closed the ball. 

Among the ladies at Newport, I noticed one whom 
I had often seen at New York, Saratoga, and other 
places, and who had always been a leader of fashion 
wherever she went. With some surprise I observed 
that this lady was scarcely noticed by those with whom 
she had formerly been very intimate ; and those who 
had once been glad to receive the slightest token of 
recognition from her, now swept haughtily by her, 
without deigning a glance. 

Many surmises did I make, to account for this 
change in the manner of the fashionables toward the 
lady ; but none were satisfactory. Her husband's po- 
sition was exalted — his wealth was immense. There 
was a mystery about the matter which puzzled me, 



IN HIGH LIFE. 115 

and I determined to nnravel it. I seized every oppor- 
tunity that offered for conversing with her former 
friends ; but they always spoke of her with a reserve 
that left me more in doubt and more curious than be- 
fore. 

In the meantime, I had become well acquainted 
with her maid, who, I knew, had been with her a long 
time, and was much attached to her. It was, how- 
ever, not until after much solicitation that I prevailed 
on her to tell me the story. 

" It has been more than fifteen years," she said, 
" since I first became acquainted with my mistress. 
She was, at that time, scarcely eighteen years old, 
and was one of the most beautiful girls I have ever 
seen ; but, in her countenance, even at that age, 
could be detected traces of that pride which has ever 
been her ruling passion. Her mother had died when 
she was a child. Her father was engaged in a large, 
and apparently very lucrative business. He had in 
his employment, a young man some twenty- three or 
twenty-four years of age, who frequently had occasion 
to call at the house, to bring letters, messages, etc., to 

Mr. . This young man was tall and well-formed, 

and although his features were not at all regular, still 
he was very handsome. When he was in conversa- 
tion, there was a peculiar fascination in his manner, 
which it was almost impossible to resist. 

" I had been engaged in the house some months 
before I observed any alteration in the manner of my 
mistress. Whenever James came into her presence, 
with any message for her father, she always had many 
questions to ask him, and seemed anxious to prolong 
his stay as much as possible. When he had gone, 



116 A HAIR-DRESSEe's EXrERlENCE 

she would sit for hours without speaking a word ; but 
I could plainly see there was a violent struggle going 
on within her breast. 

" I had conceived a great affection for my young 
lady. Although she had the reputation of being proud 
and selfish, to me she had always shown the greatest 
kindness, nor had I ever heard from her lips a harsh 
word. 1 determined to watch over her, and, as far as 
was in my power, avert the misfortune which I thought 
threatened her. It was with much pain that I first 
observed the change in her conduct toward James. 
Formerly she had spoken to him haughtily, and had 
treated him in the same manner she would any other 
menial — for he had a position in her father's warehouse 
scarcely above that of a common porter; but her man- 
ner gradually changed and softened toward him, until 
she treated him more respectfully than any visitor that 
came to the house. 

"James was not slow in detecting this change in 
my mistress, and divining the cause. His visits to the 
house became more and more frequent ; and, always 
under some pretext or other, he endeavored to see the 
young lady. 

" I do not think he ever had an opportunity of 
conversing with her alone, until one morning I 
started out to spend the day with one of my rela- 
tives. It so happened that I returned early in the 
afternoon, and having walked some distance, I sat 
down in a small room adjoining tiie parlor, to recruit 
myself. I had scarcely seated myself, when 1 heard a 
voice, which I knew to be that of James, but 1 could 
not catch the words. Then louder, and as if in anger, 
I iieard my mistress say, 



IN HIGH LIFE. 117 

*' ' What do yon mean, sir, by addressing me in this 
manner. Why this eflrontery that makes you so far 
forget my position and your own ? Think you, for a 
moment, that I, the daughter of wealth, can listen 
quietly to such language from a common laborer ? ' 

" ' You are mistaken, Miss. I addressed you only in 
terms of respect, and if one, whom you sueeringly call 
a common laborer, acts in your presence as an equal, 
it is because your manner and words, for months past, 
have warranted him in so doing.' 

" ' You are becoming still more insulting, sir. It is 
only your vanity that has made you so misconstrue 
my actions. But it is beneath me to explain. Leave 
the house, sir, and rest assured my father shall know 
of your conduct.' 

" ' I will do as you command, regretting exceedingly 
having given expression to those feelings which I have 
long cherished, and dared to hope would not meet 
with the scorn you have shown. But you will lind, 
ere long, wealth does not separate us so widely as you 
think,' and so saying, he went out. 

" I caught a glimpse of his countenance, as he turned 
to shut the door, and saw on it an expression of tri- 
umph which I had scarcely expected to find there, and 
could not divine the meaning of. 

" Scarcely had the door closed, when I heard my 
young lady sobbing violently. ' Why am I so unfor- 
tunate?' said she. 'Why should this man, so much 
my inferior, have inspired me with such feelings ? 
Thank heaven my pride sustained me, and prevented 
my lips from expressing the love I have so vainly 
struggled against. But,' and her voice expressed the 
gladness with which the thought inspired her, 'what 



118 A hair-dresser's experience 

did he mean bj saying our positions were not so dif- 
ferent as 1 thought ? Can it be possible he is not what 
he seems ? I pray to Ileaveu it may be so.' 

" I was much grieved to be a listener to this conver- 
sation, but had been, for some time, dreading such an 
occurrence. Still I was glad that she had so controlled 
herself in the presence of James, and had given him 
not one word of encouragement. Yet I wondered 
what his last words, coupled with his look of triumph, 
meant. Alas! they were too soon to be explained. 

" That night Mr. did not come home until late, 

and sending for his daughter, told her that all his 
wealth was gone. Some large speculations, in which 
he had engaged, had turned out disastrously, and he 
was ruined. Not one dollar had he saved from the 
wreck ; and in his old age, he must go out to seek a 
living for her and himself. He had many friends in 
New York, and did not doubt of success, but that she 
would have to live according to their altered circum- 
stances. 

"In a few days the furniture was all sold, and we 

started for New York, where Mr. had secured a 

situation with a large and wealthy firm, to the father 
of the junior member of which he had been an early 
friend, lie now lived very plainly and comfortably. 
It was, however, a great change from our former life, 
and my young lady would often sigh for the luxuries 
of her earlier days. 

" We had been in New York about a year. During 
this time, Mr. D., one of my master's employers, had 
been a constant visitor at our house. lie was a fine 
looking man, in tlie prime of life, kind and courteous 
iu his manners, and was possessed of immense wealth. 



IN HIGH LIFE, 119 

From the moment oi" his first visit, I saw that he was 
enamored of my young hidy. She, dazzled by his 
wealth, had accepted the ofl'er of his hand, and they 
were soon to be married. 

"When the appointed time arrived, my young lady 
went to the altar a not unwilling bride, for she loved 
position and wealth ; and had never been contented 
with her lot since her father's failure ; but I knew, 
from observing her closely, that she had never felt any 
love for her intended husband. 

" After the ceremony had taken place, we removed 
to a new and splendid mansion, in one of the most 
fashionable quarters of the city, and lived far more 
magnificently than ever before. The winters were 
spent in a continual round of gayety in the city, and 
during the summers we visited the fashionable 
watering-places, at all of which my lady was 
greatly admired and courted for her beauty and 
wealth. 

" A few years passed in this way, when one evening 
I heard Mr. D. remark that he had engaged a new 
coachman, who would come the next morning. I did 
not think anything of this circumstance until the next 
day, when, imagine my surprise and alarm, on re- 
cognizing in the new servant, no other than my old 
acquaintance, James. 

" I was very curious to see the efiect his appearance 
would have on Mrs. D. She knew nothing of it until 
in the afternoon, when he drove to the door, and she 
stepped out to get in the carriage. At the first glance 
she recognized him, and lor a moment I thought she 
would fall, but recovering, she straitened herself up, 
and getting into the carriage, without another look, 
lb 



120 A hair-dresser's experience 

the door was closed, and I heard the carriage rattling 
over the streets as they drove away. 

"That evening Mrs. D. told her husband she did 
not like the new coachman, and would rather he would 
get another, but Mr. D. had taken a fancy to him, and 
asked his wife to give him a trial of a few weeks. I sup- 
posed she disliked saying anything to her husband of 
her former knowledge of the man. A few weeks 
passed, and my lady said nothing more to her hus- 
band concerning the man's dismissal, and I noticed 
that she appeared more fond of riding than heretofore, 
and no matter how disagreeable the weather, never 
missed a single day in going out, when she was not 
unwell. She now began frequently to complain of 
sickness, and was continually sending for medicines, 
or such delicacies as sick people generally crave, and 
James, although a man servant was kept in the house, 
was always sent on these errands, and would take the 
things, himself, to her room. 

"It was now a season of the year when the busi- 
ness of Mr. D. required that he should be absent from 
the city a great portion of the time. Mrs. D. during 
his absence, was generally confined to her room, and 
one night would let no one sit up with her during the 
early part of the evening, but James. This caused a 
great deal of talk among the servants, and it soon be- 
gan to be whispered about among the neighbors, until 
it finally reached Mr. D.'s ears. 

"No one could tell by his manner that he had 
heard the slightest rumor against his wife ; if possi- 
ble, he seemed more kind to her than usual. ' He 
was compelled,' as he said, ' unexpectedly, to leave 
New York that evening, on important business ;' and 



IN HIGH LIFE. 121 

bidding his wife affectionately farewell, he left the 
house. 

" Again was Mrs. D. taken sick, and James was 
sent for to sit with her, to be ready to go for anything 
that was wanted. About eleven o'clock, I saw Mr. 
D. going up stairs ; how he got in I know not — the 
doors were all locked — but that matters not, there he 
was ; and I watched him with anxiety as I saw him 
stop at his wife's door. It was locked. He broke it 
open with one blow. I was fearful of the conse- 
quences. Mrs. D. was lying in bed, and near her 
sat James, reading. My master, much to ray aston- 
ishment, simply ordered him down stairs ; when he 
went out, the door was closed, and I could hear 
nothing that passed inside. 

" The next morning, James asked me to see Mr., 
D., and request him to give him a recommendation, 
Mr. D.'s countenance did not change in the least (and 
I watched him closely), as he replied, ' Tell him if he 
is here at breakfast, I will give him one.' I delivered 
the message to James, and his face grew pale as he 
listened to it ; he left the room, and I have seen 
nothing of him from that day to this. Mr. D. has 
treated his wife since with the greatest attention be- 
fore the eyes of others, but alone he never exchanges 
a word with her. Notwithstanding the care that 
was taken, the thing leaked out through the servants, 
and is now pretty generally known." 

I listened to the girl's story with some interest, but 
with very little surprise, for I had seen and heard of 
so many more marvelous circumstances, that I was 
prepared to believe that ladies could be guilty of al 



122 A hair-dresser's experience 

most any si)ecies of folly. When she hud finished, 
however, I no longer tliought it sti-angc that her 
mistress should be treated so couly by her former as- 
sociates. 

Daring this, my first and last visit to Newport, very 
many strange and peculiar things came under my 
notice. Among them was the following incident, 
which, although it occurred in the hight of the season, 
was known to but very few of the visitors. 

A young lady stopped at one of the fashionable ho- 
tels, with her mother, father, and another lady about 
her own age, a cousin. One evening,, the latter com- 
plaining of being unwell, retired early, and left this 
young lady in the parlor with her father and mother. 
They sat up quite late, and when the young lady 
started to go to bed, instead of going to her own 
room, through a mistake she went into that of a 
stranger a flight lower. Without striking a light, she 
undressed herself, and sat down on the edge of the 
bed, and commenced telling her cousin something 
that had occurred down stairs after she left. Won- 
dering why her cousin was so silent, and thinking she 
was asleep, she put her hand on her face to arouse 
her, when, to her horror and dismay, instead of the 
soft face of her cousin, she felt the bearded lip and 
hard face of a man. On her attempting to leave, he 
had the impudence to kiss her ; she screamed, and 
rushing from the room, sought her father and mother, 
to whom she told the circumstance. They concluded 
their best plan would be to leave ; and so, early the 
next morning, they started for Niagara Falls. Going 
by the way of Boston, they made a short stay in that 



IN HIGH LIFE. 123 

place. They arrived at Niagara, and found the gen- 
tleman had reached there before them. He sought 
an introduction to the young lady, courted her, and 
the next season they were married and occupied the 
same room. 



124 A haie-deesser's expeeience 



CHAPTER VI. 

MINNIE. 

Some twenty years ago, I knew a family in Kentucky, 
all the members of which were remarkable for thyir 
beauty. We will call them the Smiths. There were 
two beautiful daughters ; the elder one, I called by 
the pet name of Minnie. As a child, she was amiable 
and lovely ; and she grew up both beautiful and intel- 
ligent. At the age of fifteen, her eyes became afiected, 
which procured her leave of absence to return home 
from school. During that time she became acquainted 
with Noble in a rather peculiar manner. As he was 
sitting, with other members of the family, in the hall 
which went through the middle of the house, he raised 
his eyes, and was astonished at the vision of loveliness 
that greeted his sight, coming down the broad stair- 
way. She was dressed in a white cambric morning 
wrapper, confined at the waist with a rich blue silk 
cord and tassel; her clear red and white complexion 
contrasting beautifully with her disheveled hair of 
dark chesnut, which nearly reached her feet. When 
she saw the stranger, she gave a scream, and ran back 
to lier room. In the evening, the gentleman returned, 
and was introduced to her. He had fallen in love at 
first sight, and the introduction had only tightened 
the chains on the part of Noble. But Minnie, young 
as she was, already loved another. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 125 

When her family and friends saw the impression 
Minnie had made upon Noble, they immediately went 
to work to make a match between them. Not long 
after Noble had left Kentucky, they started with Min- 
nie for the East. They remained several days in the 
city where Noble was; and he and Minnie were 
thiwwn together as much as possible. They walked 
and rode together, and he accompanied her to all the 
fashionable places of amusement. They were finally 
engaged to be married, which fatal affair took place in 
the cemetery. It was within the walls of the dead, 
and among the silent tombs, that she consented to be 
his bride. Her object being gained, she started for 
home, leaving behind her broken hearts in Washing- 
ton, and every other place she had stopped. When 
she arrived at home, she was greeted by the one she 
loved, but not by the one who loved her. Autumn 
was passing, and winter drew nigh, when they departed 
for the South. Shortly after. Noble, who loved her so 
dearly, followed her. This gave her great notoriety, 
as he was a man of high standing. Minnie now 
seemed desirous of avoiding him. I have often seen 
her dodge behind the one she would be walking with ; 
when she would meet him, she, perhaps, would be 
on the one side of the street, and he on the other. 
Though engaged to him, she never loved him ; she 
only wanted him for a while : for, after it was known 
she was engaged to him, she had lovers by the score. 
She then thought to get rid of him by persuading him 
to go to Europe, hoping, by the time he got back, she 
would be married to one she loved. 

They corresponded all the time he was in Europe. 
The letters were sometimes favorable and sometimes 



126 A haik-dresser's experience 

unfavorable. At last he told her he was prepared for 
anything, either for acceptance or rejection. To do 
her justice, she did at this time discard him, and wrote 
a letter to him to that effect, which she sent to the 
post office. Her mother, on learning this, went to the 
office, and demanded it, on pretense of having forgot- 
ten something she intended to put in it. She tten 
went home, and made her daughter write a letter of 
acceptance, standing by her while she did it. 

Two months from that day, the gentleman was on 
his native shore again ; and you may be sure he was 
not long in presenting himself to the loved one. She 
received him with a smile, while her heart was bleed- 
ing, for she still cherished the hope that she would 
maa-ry the one she loved. The time fur tlie marriage 
was set, and the town was on the qui vlve. 

ISloblc returned home to settle his etfairs, prepara- 
tory to the event. In the meantime, Minnie went to 
the parents of her former lover, and, on her knees, 
swore she would never give her hand to any one but 
their son. At tlie same time, dressmakers, milli- 
ners, shoemakers, and even to diamond-polishers, 
were busy preparing for her coming marriage with 
Noble — even the hair-dresser was not idle; and 
friends were not idle, tor they were busy watching 
her, for fear of her eloping. Bat, through many 
watchers, she was secured until Noble came. Then 
were sent out two or three hundred invitations. Such 
preparations never were known in the Western coun- 
try before. 

They had three rooms opening into one another — 
one green and gold, another crimson velvet, and the 
third cherry and gold ; they opened into a beautiful 



IN HIGH LIFE. 127 

conservatory. On tlio opposite side of the hall was a 
rausic-room ; then an eating-room, with a table set 
out I believe no one ever saw surpassed in a private 
family. There were three pyramids; one, many feet 
in hight, had on tlie top a beautiful burner of incense, 
which sent forth a fragrance that could not be sur- 
passed. They were all covered with different colored 
lights, and certainly had a grand and beautiful effect. 

There were eight bridemaids, dressed in pure 
white, with pink wreathes on their heads. The bride's 
dress was a double skirt of Brussels lace over white 
silk ; Brussels vail, fastened with diamonds. I don't 
believe the Empress Eugenia could have looked more 
elegant than she did. Iler bed-room surpassed any- 
thing that at that time had ever been seen in this 
country. Her bed-cover was white figured satin ; the 
pillow covers were embroidered cambric, finer than 
the pocket handkerchiefs used in these days; the cur- 
tains were of lace, fastened to a canopy in the French 
style, and on the cornice were crushed roses ; the 
couch was figured satin ; the window curtains were 
of lace, lined with pink satin ; and a large oval mir- 
ror, which stood between the windows, had a wreath 
of white roses around it. 

Was poor Minnie happy in all this elegance ? No ; 
her heart was bleeding, and at every tap at the door 
to bring her presents she would exclaim, in tones of 
anguish, "O, God ! " She would have no one in the 
room with her but the hair-dresser alone; she 
dreaded having her bridemaids in the room lest 
she should faint or have spasms, as she had during 
the day. 

At half-past eight the bridemaids came in and re- 
11 



128 A hair-deesser's experience 

mained with her till nine, when she was led from her 
queen-like apartment and married. 

When she was pronounced the wife of Noble by the 
minister, it was the happiest moment her mother had 
seen for a long time. Many of the guests expected 
her to refuse the hand of Noble even at the altar, but 
her former lover did not appear. All who have loved 
may judge the feelings of poor Minnie at this time. 
Now came the dance. She danced as merrily as any 
of her guests, for pride kept her from showing any 
feeling but that of happiness. Her reception was the 
third day; it was as grand an afi'air as the wedding. 
Her reception dress was made of three skirts of span- 
gled tulle, with a coronet of pearls and diamonds. 
After this connnenced the parties by the bridemaids, 
at which she danced the polka, and many other fancy 
dances. 

Noble did not at first make any objection, but at the 
third or fourth party he objected to her dancing tlie 
polka. Siie persisted in it, when lie expressly forbid 
her. Then commenced the trouble. Iler mother ad- 
vised witii her; her husband tried to compel her; but 
in spite of both she would dance what siie pleased. 
Before the parties were through with, there was an- 
other objection raised; her color was a little too 
high. 

Noble now took a stand, and forbid her going to 
parties altogether. At this her father, mother and 
brother interfered, and insisted she should go where 
she pleased, and make her toilet to suit herself. I 
now got tired, and went South, but iiad only been 
there about two months when tiu'y wrote for me to go 
East. On my arrival they told me she had been sick, 



IN HIGH LIFE. 129 

but I knew what her sickness was, as when Minnie 
took a tantrum she always feigned sickness. 

A few days passed, and we all started, for the East, 
by way of Washington. All the way Minnie was 
sour and cross to Noble, and never gave him a pleas- 
ant word, though she talked and laughed with many 
on the cars, that I thought a good deal to low for her 
even to speak to. 

On our arrival at Washington, Noble's family, and 
numerous others, called on and treated Minnie with 
great respect. While in company she was all life and 
gayety, but in private she was sour, morose and frel 
ful. Her conduct made Noble very unhappy. On& 
evening Minnie dressed to go down to the parloi 
when Noble thought she had indulged in too bright a 
color ; on his saying so, she got very angry and told 
him she did not use cosmetics at all. He went to her 
trunk, and there found them, which so provoked her 
that she kept up the quarrel till quite late in the 
night. lie rang the bell for the hair-dresser, and 
asked her to find all the cosmetics, and throw them in 
tlie tire. Minnie became so enraged, when she heard 
this, that she screamed out loud enough to raise all in 
the house; and tried to leave the impression on their 
minds that her husband had struck her. Then com- 
menced the tragedy. It was like the rolling sea, first 
a calm and then a storm, till we got to our new home. 

Noble's family had apartments provided for them 
at the hotel. These apartments were elegant, and 
elegantly furnished. She had many useful and valu- 
able presents, but not the kind Minnie wanted. She 
had set her heart on a carriage and four, and nothing 
els/' u'ould satisfy her. Many ladies would have been 



130 A hair-dresser's experience 

delighted with the beautiful boquets sent to her, and 
the elegant vases and baskets that came in ; but all 
failed to please her, and she became more and more 
unhappy. Nothing could be done to please her, by 
any one ; had she been a princess, from foreign lands, 
there could not have been more attention shown her, 
than by the family of Noble. But, as she did not 
love him, any attention Irom his family was unpleas- 
ant to her. It was truly distressing to visit her apart- 
ments sometimes, as she was at times gay, cheerful, 
and full of spirits ; at others she would walk the floor 
as if frenzied, then sit down at the piano and run 
over all the sentimental pieces she could think of; 
then rummage over old letters, read them, sometimes 
laugh and sometimes cry. She kept the likeness of 
her former lover, which she had a great deal of trouble 
in secreting. Y/hen her husband would come in and 
find her in her tantrums, he knew she had either been 
receiving letters, looking over old ones, or writing. 

This unhappiness lasted for a long time, without 
any person finding out or knowing anything of it ; but 
at length a cousin of Noble's found it out, and under- 
took to increase the trubles of his cousin. His visits 
were constant; he would tell Minnie that Noble's 
family was wealthy, and she should have a great 
many more things than she had, and by his conversa- 
tion made her very unhappy ; then, on her husband's 
coming in, she would treat him in a very unladylike 
manner, for which treatment she would give no reason 
to him. 

On one occasion she told him her mother had writ- 
ten for her to come home, when she really had not 
heard from her mother fur ten davs. He often de- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 131 

manded to see the letters. Once she had one all 
ready, and handed it to him, but forgot that all her 
letters came through his hands, as he had a box in 
the post-otHce ; on his saying so, she said she received 
it through her hair-dresser. I, not being aware of 
this, on being called in, at once said I knew nothing 
of it, nor had I brought in any letters. He then saw 
a letter in her hand, and demanded it, at the same 
time asking me to leave the room. I expected a fuss, 
so did not go far away ; and, sure enough, in a few 
minutes I heard Minnie scream in a very loud voice. 
I rushed into the room when Minnie called to me, 
" Hair-dresser save me." I asked him, what was the 
matter ? He said he wanted to get that letter, and he 
would have it at any risk. 

By this tin:ie many gentlemen from the public 
offices, attracted by her scream, had hurried up to see 
what was wrong. I met them at the door and told 
them she had been sick, but was now better. I then 
led her to her chamber, and talked to her, and rea- 
soned with her, and then asked her to let him have 
the letter, but she would not. Noble was deteru:iined 
to liave it, so while I was talking to him she minced it 
up into a million pieces and threw it in tlie fire. He 
tiied to save the pieces, when she again screamed so 
loud that he put his hand on her mouth to stop lier. 
I then, for the first time, interfered, and asked him to 
leave the room for a few minutes, till I could quiet 
her. He immediately did so, in a very gentlemanly 
manner. 

The next day Minnie sent for the proprietor and de- 
manded a suite of rooms for herself. I talked and 
reasoned with her, asking her what the people would 



132 A IIAIR-DEESSEr's EXrERIENCE 

say about her. Her reply was, "All they can say is, 
I am a spoiled Kentucky girl." I then told her that 
would not save her, as the people in this country were 
not so easily put off. Through much reasoning the 
proprietor (who is a very gentlemanly man) and I got 
her to give up the idea of changing just then, and we 
got her quiet and loving to Noble. 

When the news came of the death of her former 
lover she took sick and laid in her room for weeks. 
Noble and his friends hoped she would now become do- 
mesticated and affectionate ; but no, she now got along 
so badly, and led him such a life that ho would often 
go to his mother's and lock himself in a room. Ilis 
friends feared he would commit suicide. 

The doctor at this time ordered Minnie to a water- 
ing-place. A¥hile we were preparing to go, the cousin 
wiio had interfered with her before came along again, 
but he was so much afraid of me that he would walk 
up and down the halls till I would be out of the way, 
then he would slip in and talk to her. One day I 
caught him speaking to her, and telling her wuat 
stands to take, and how she could best worry Noble, 
lie had never liked Noble nor any of his family, and 
would tell her such and such treatment would break 
their hearts. 1 then went in and gave him the lengtli 
of my tongue. I told him for his wife's sake 1 would 
not expose him, either to his wife or to Noble, but if I 
ever again caught him there 1 would give him a sound 
thrashing, and that would expose him enough, lie 
then left, but by some means he got to see her again, 
and advised her to have her baggage sent to a steam- 
boat, and go on to Europe instead of to the watering- 
l^lace, when in a lew weeks he and his wife would fol- 



IN 11 Kill r.IFK, 133 

low her. She, being young and foolisli, consented to 
the phin, but would not go without her hair-dresser. 
When I heard it, 1 in a quiet way put a stop to all, 
without exposing tiic matter, as 1 did not wisli either 
his wife or Noble to have any more uneasiness. We 
then left for the watering-place. 

Minnie was well received there, and was at the head 
of everything — she was fairly worshiped — when again 
this cousin came along. He tried to get her to write 
to her mother that she was sick, and bring her on 
there to find her in perfect health, as she had done 
once before at his instigation ; but I found it out, and 
put the mother of Noble in pursuit of him. 

Minnie again became dissatisfied. Noble now grew 
ugly; it was not his luitural disposition, but grief 
drove him to stimulants, and nuiny other things to 
drown his trouble. Now, for the first time, Minnie 
found out slie had lost her intiuence over her husband, 
and made bitter complaints to his mother, for tlie lat- 
ter always took Minnie's part to Noble, although know- 
ing she was wrong. She would say to Minnie, 
""Take a decided stand, Minnie, and begin anew, and 
try to be steady." Minnie's reply was always, laugh- 
ing, ''l can not be steady — I never was taught to be 
steady. My ma never made me mind in her life. 
Had I been raised as you raised your daughters, it 
W(juld have been different. I will just give you one 
little instance of how I was raised. One night, on 
conjing down dressed for a ball, the carriage was out of 
order, and the coachman had neglected to tell mamma; 
so, not to disappoint me, mamma ofi'ered to send 
out for a hack, which made me so mad I walked out 
in blue silk boots and silk stockint-s. The snow was 



134 A iiaik-dresser's experience 

ankle deep. My feet were wet when I got to the ball- 
room, but I danced till five o'clock in the morning. 
Had mamma made me go up to my room and undress, 
how much better that would have been for me." 

Noble's mother then said to her, " Minnie, I will 
again get your teacher. Do you settle yourself, and 
study hard, and you will yet be an honor to your 
mamma and all connected with you." 

Minnie's troubles were not over yet, for she never 
stuck to her good resolutions. On one occasion ISToble 
took Minnie out riding. On their return she was sob- 
bing like a frightened child ; she said he had whipped 
her. 1 can not say if it was true or not, as when I asked 
him what he had done to her, he replied, in a very 
gentlemanly manner, he had not done anything to her 
but get a letter from her she received from her mother. 
The contents were, that her brother, on his way to 
Europe, had seen Minnie, and wrote back to his 
mother to send for and take her home, as she was very 
unhappy ; though every one who knew Minnie knew 
that, at that time, she was as happy as she could be 
made; but it was her disposition to make anyone 
from her home believe she was miserable and badly 
treated. 

Of course, this letter made Noble very angry ; 
there was no more peace between them ; she would 
do as she pleased, and he would not have it so. On 
another occasion he wished her to call on a lady ; she 
consented, when he engaged a private carriage for 
her, but she engaged a larger one for herself, and took 
some ladies with her, and a gentleman Noble did not 
like. When he found what she had done, he drove 
his buggy up by the side of tlie carriage, and made 



IN man life, 135 

her i^et out and go with him. IIo took her out in the 
country ; they staid so long I sent ont a man on horse- 
hack to look for them ; and at last I got so uneasy I 
went out myself. After going a mile or so, I met 
them, and asked, " Is that you, Minnie ?" The reply 
came in a low, broken tone, " Yes, it is I." 

1 hurried home, and was just in time to prevent an 
exposure. I got them with great difficulty quieted 
down for that time. A few nights after, she came to 
my door and told me to get up, as Noble was treating 
her badly. I came down and asked him. Ilis reply 
was as usual, "I have done nothing to her." I never 
saw him strike or misuse her, and her words 1 could 
not place much confidence in, as it was difficult to 
know when she was in jest or earnest. 

There was a lady who roomed next to her, who 
heard and saw a good deal of their proceedings; she 
and I had many a confidential talk about Minnie, and 
man}' an hour have I sat in her room, waiting for a 
storm to be at hand. Minnie told her many things 
she should have kept back ; at least she said so. This 
lady asked me one night if it was true that Minnie 
went to Noble's mother's to a dinner party with a 
calico dress on ? I told her Minnie's maid had not a 
calico dress, and I knew she had not had one since 
she was ten years old. Then she asked me of the 
reception Minnie had at Noble's mother's. I told her 
all about it ; how on her leaving Kentucky, Noble 
wished her to Cjuit using paint; she declared slie 
would not go to balls, parties, theaters, or any other 
place, if she could not dress as she pleased ; she had 
invitations to many parties, but would not go ; many 
called on her, but she would not see them, till her 



130 A IIATR-DRESSEr's EXrERIENCR 

mother was telegraphed for in a chuKlestiiic mamier ; 
she came, and of course there was a change then. 
It was during her stay Minnie's reception came ofi'. 
I told this lady what an afiair it was : Three servants 
elegantly dressed — one at the hall door, one on the 
stairway, and one at the parlor door to announce 
the guests. 1 told her the number of invitations 
sent out, the splendor of the tables, and what was 
on them. There were hundreds of dollars sjtent in 
flowers scattered hither and thither through the rooms. 

She then asked me how Noble's brothers and sisters 
treated her. I told her they treated Minnie as if she 
had been an own loved sister ; nothing seemed too 
much to do for her. She asked how Minnie treated 
Noble when he was sick. 1 told her the truth ; that 
she scarcely ever came near him ; I and his mother 
waited on and nursed him. One night, the doctor 
])ronounced him in a very dangerous way ; she danced 
into the room, and said she hoped soon to be the gay 
widow Noble. I would not have told all this to her, 
but Minnie had nuule a confidant of her, and told her 
many things herself. 

Jjcfore we got through with our talk it was late, 
and I iieard Noble call me in a hurried tone ; I went 
in as quickly as possible, and found Minnie on her 
back in bed, with towels and handkerchiefs spattered 
with blood all around her ; I hastened forward and 
asked what was the nuitter with her. She said Nt;ble 
had been scolding her a long time, and the excite- 
ment had brought on a hemorrhage of the lungs. 
I do not know what it was ; whether from a bad 
tooth, or realiv from the lunirs ; but I have known 



IN man life. 137 

Minnie for a very tritiing oflense, raise blood, to 
iVighten Noble into doing as she wished. 

For several days after this, we had peace, until 
some more letters came; she locked them in her 
trunk, and vowed he should not see them. I had re- 
tired for the night. He sent and got an axe, and 
Minnie came running up for me ; when I got down, 
he was about to break open the trunk ; I begged and 
entreated of him to leave them, but he declared the 
letters he would have, and the letters he did have ; 
then there was another fuss, I told them I would go 
home the next day; they entreated me to stay a while 
longer, and at length I consented. In the meantime 
Minnie had persuaded them to let her go home and 
visit her parents. During her preparation Minnie 
and Noble had a worse quarrel than ever. 

I found the only possible plan to save them from 
being blasted for life, was to telegraph for her father 
to come for her, which I did. 1 determined not to 
stay another week ; my health was growing bad from 
constant excitement, and I had concluded to go home., 
when her father wrote that he would be there at a 
certain time. 

Notwithstanding the exciting occurrences that hap- 
pened, every one disliked to part with Minnie. Hear- 
ing we were to leave so soon, the lady in the next 
room began asking me questions again. She asked 
me if it was true Minnie had been followed in the 
street. I told her yes, Minnie once took me a walking 
with her, and we were followed by twenty or thirty 
people. I took her into a jewelry store, till I got a 
carriage and had her brought h(nne. I then begged 
her never to ask me to go out with her again. She 



138 A nAIR-DKlESSEK's KXPERIENCE 

then said there innst bo something more between 
Minnie and Noble, than had yet been found out. I 
told her, yes, there was more than either editors or 
lawyers have found out, or can find out, for when I 
give my word it is sacred. I then said to her, 
"•IVIadam, you must have been talking a good deal 
with Minnie." Her reply was, "That Minnie told 
her a great many things ; among otliers that Noble's 
mother had gone on her knees to Minnie, and asked her 
to be kind to iier son ; though she knew she did not 
love him, for her sake to be kind to him." 

Our conversation had reached this point, and she 
was about telling me all she had heard, when we were 
startled by a loud scream. I jumped up and went to 
their room, knocked at the door, but received no reply. 
I waited half an hour and then went to bed. Early 
next morning, on my going to her room I found every- 
thing out of her trunks, waiting my packing. 

We started for ttie city; Noble went by the cars, 
while JSIinnie and 1 went by the boat, with our bag- 
gage. While on the boat, that cousin, who had done 
so much mischief, came on to try and have a last in- 
terview with Minnie; but, through fear of me, he did 
not dare speak to her. On our reaching the city, 
there was a dispatch for Minnie, stating that her 
father would be there the next day. Noble's mother 
came to see Minnie, to know what silver, and other 
articles, she would require, on her return, for house- 
keeping. I stood by and heard her say what she 
would want and what not, when I turned and said to 
Noble's mother, " Madame, Minnie is not coming 
back." She said to her, " Minnie, are 3'ou not coming 
back?" when she good-naturedly laughed, and said. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 139 

" If my hair-dresser comes too." She then asked me, 
"If I would come?" I told her, "had I to live on 
bread and water, I never would wait on a bride 
again." 

Next morning came Minnie's father; at two o'clock 
we started ; Noble followed us to the cars. Should I 
live to be a thousand years old, I can never forget his 
sad expression, when he bade her good bye, particu- 
larly as I knew she was not coming back, when he 
expected her. When the cars started the tears were 
rolling down his face, while she smiled, and, at last, 
burst into an immoderate fit of laughing. 

I staid with her till she arrived at home, and for 
a few days after. She seemed, at first, to be quite 
happy to be back at home, and all seemed happy and 
contented with her; but, at the expiration of three 
days, she sent for me and said, if I would go back to 
the city with her she would go. I told her there was 
nothing on earth could induce me to go back with her. 
I then left for Cincinnati, and I had not been long 
there till I heard she was not to leave her father's 
again. Truly where Minnie loved she did love, and 
wliere she hated she did hate. 

I did not again see Minnie for several months, but 
when I went down to Louisville, I found her as great 
a belle as ever with gentlemen. She had a number 
of beaux, and one or more proposals. The ladies 
always envied her, and now more than ever. 

A few months rolled around, and Minnie paid a 
visit to Cincinnati, to one of the first families, who 
were acquainted with her father and mother. She 
was received by Mrs. L. with marked attention, and 
treated as well as she ever was in her life. Now was 



uo 



A IIAIK- DRESSER S EXPERIENCE 



the tiniG for calls. Some of the Cincinnati ladies held 
a consultation whether they should call or not; some 
who stood upon a slipjjery hill backed out; but others 
who were ladies indeed, and felt themselves tinn as 
the rock of ages, knew the rules of etiquette, and 
called on her — not so much, I must say, on Minnie's 
account, as on account of Mrs. L., her hostess. 

At this time there was a great fair at the Masonic 
Hall ; Minnie was present, accompanied by her 
friends and many gentlemen. On her entering the 
room, there were about one thousand people in the 
hall ; all had their backs to the door, looking at the 
diflerent handsome things around the room ; but, as 
if by a unanimous impulse, all turned round and 
looked at her; some of her party were disconcerted a 
little, but Minnie herself took it as a great compli- 
ment; she had been so accustomed to admiration she 
did not think anything of it. She looked more like 
a tairy than a human creature ; her dress was a tulle 
with three skirts ; about her shoulders and waist was 
a light scarf of a delicate shade of pink, spangled; 
her boots were pink silk, and she wore a delicate pink 
kid glove ; her hair, as 1 have before mentioned, was 
a beautiful chesnut, which laid in massive waves 
across her head. She had no scarcity of diamonds, 
and her complexion was most brilliant. As she 
moved around the room, the crowd moved after her ; 
she was more an object of admiration than anything 
there. 

The style of dress I have described was a common 
thing M'ith Minnie, and though unusual in Cincinnati, 
was nothing thought of in Louisville. I once dressed 
Minnie for a ball in Louisville, when her dress was 



IN HIGH LIFE. 141 

called the raiii])uw ; the first skirt was crimson, the 
next bine, then pink, and tlie last white — all the same 
length, which gave it the appearance of the rainbow ; 
her boots were blue; she had gold bands round her 
ancles, and plain gold bands round her wrists, and 
the gold earrings which she wore in her ears were 
much larger than tliose on her wrists. Her sister ac- 
companied her; she was younger than Minnie, an>l 
very beautiful. She was dressed in a pure while satin 
dress, with tulle over it, white satin boots, white kid 
gloves, and white japonicas in her hair. iShc was 
pronounced by many the most beautiful lady in tlie 
iState — while others thought Minnie bore oil" the palm 
of beauty. 

Minnie's sister had not the opportunity of showing 
oft' her beauty that Minnie had, as she eloped belorc 
she was of age. She has not had so many triumphs 
as Minnie, but as she moved through the streets sotne 
called her the i)retty lady. She was often followed 
by a number cf boys, who called her the handsome 
lady with the pink boots. lier street dress in Cin- 
cinnati was an embroidered dress with three flounces; 
her mantle was pink, trimmed with the most elegant 
and costly lace ; her bonnet was of the most elegant 
description of white lace, and trimmed with tlie rich- 
est pink bows. She had a peculiar style of her own 
of wearing her bonnet on the very top of her head, 
but it was elegant. 

On my going to see Minnie, she was always in- 
rpiiring what the people said of her, and was per- 
fectly delighted with the notice taken of her, both at 
the church and fair, and on the street — taking all as a 
great compliment. When she asked me, I would tell 



142 A IIAIU-DRESSKK's EXPEKIE^X'E 

lier. I have known her to receive as a compliment 
what other ladies would be furious about ; and for 
that reason I would not tell her what folks were say- 
ing. 1 asked her if she had forgotten her promises 
and conversation while in the East. She said she 
had made so many she could not remember what; so 
I told her what her promise was : One morning, 
while in Boston, we were conversing, and Minnie 
said she blamed the way in which parents treated 
their slaves for the conduct of younger members of 
the family, as the sins of the parents were visited 
upon the children ; and when she went home she 
would set free a woman and her child who belonged 
to herself. 

1 then asked her if she had done so. Her reply 
was, " No, mamma would not let me." I said, " I 
tlionght they were your own property." She replied, 
"Yes, but on my going home, mamma took all my 
property out of ray liands." 

She said she had often laughed at my coaxing her 
to say her prayers and read her Bible, while in Bos- 
ton. I asked her if she thought it was a laughing 
matter, and not a duty ; and asked her again, if she 
said her prayers now. Her repl}^ was, " No ; I have 
not knelt to pray, or opened my Bible since you left 
me. When my maid passes through the room, I often 
think of tlie conversations you and I have had, and 
say to myself, if she was to go aw^ay without leave, I 
would never look after her ; for I know, let servants 
be treated as well as they can be, they want to be 
free. 

A short time after this conversation, sure enough 
the maid did leave ; her husband was in the same 



IN iiirjr LIFE. 143 

service. Minnie's mother sent this man after his 
wife, with strict charge to bring her back, or not 
dare to show himself there again. lie went, and 
when he got under the banner of Great Britain, lie 
wrote back to his mistress, saying she desired him not 
to come back without his wife ; but as she had made 
up her mind to stay where she was, and would not go 
back, he thought the best thing he could do was to 
stay with her. Some friends of the family were the 
ones that helped them to make good their escape. I 
learned, a short time after, that another of these fugi- 
tives passed through this city, who belonged to Min- 
nie's brother. It is a well known fact, these poor 
creatures could not make good their escape unless 
they w^ere aided by some influential people. 

I will, for the present, leave Minnie, but have not 
yet told one half that I know. 

12 



144 A itair-dressek's experience 



CHAPTER Vir. 

NATCHEZ — NEW ORLEANS. 

I HAVE spent many seasons in the South ; sometimes 
I was in Natchez and Yicksbnrg, and at the planta- 
tions along the coast, but generally the greater portion 
of ray time was spent in the city of New Orleans, I 
have been witness to many queer scenes in this south- 
ern country, the relation of which shall occupy this 
chapter. They were all written long after they oc- 
curred, and in the order in which they presented 
themselves to my memory ; so that this portion of my 
narrative will, perhaps, be more desultory and un- 
connected than any other. 

Some years ago, about the close of the winter sea- 
son, I found myself in Natchez, at the residence of a 
family for whom I had worked in New Orleans, and 
who had given me a pressing invitation to come to see 
them at Natchez, Having heard so much of the 
beauties of the residences in the vicinity of that city, 
surpassing those of the English nobility, and feeling 
myself quite mean at having seen those of England 
before the beauties of my own country, I determined 
to see and judge for myself. 

When I arrived, I was perfectly delighted both with 
the })eople and scenery, I went to Mr. 11, 's, and staid 
some two weeks, and during that time I assure you I 
was not idle. I was all around, in the country, in the 



IN HIGH LIFE, 145 

town, and everywhere I could go. While staying at 
Mr. H.'s, I observed their treatment of their servants 
was far more kind than that of many ladies in tlie 
Eastern States, although they had it in their power to 
be kind or unkind ; while in the East they are com- 
pelled to bo kind at all times, or their servants will 
not stay with them. But you might well ask, how 
long did this kindness last ? After a while a change 
came over Mr. 11. ; somutiraes he would be very good, 
and at others very severe. I was very sorry to hear 
it, for he had been so kind to them that I knew tliey 
could not nor would not stand bad treatment. He 
did not treat them as many treat their servants. 

Mr. 11. had one particular body servant, wiiom he 
treated as a comjjanion, except that he did not eat, 
drink or sleep with him. No matter where he went, 
up town, down town, or in the countrj^, they were in- 
separable. 

Almost all gentlemen in Louisiana and Mississippi 
have favorite body servants, and they are always very 
kind to them, more particularly so than to any other 
servant. As regarded Mr. II., I can testify to his 
kindness to his servants that season, and as to myself, 
I was treated more like a guest than a person who 
was dependant on the public for a livelihood. 

Some years passed over. I frequently visited 
Natchez, and found Mr. H. and family much the 
same; iiis wife as lovely as ever. It happened that, 
from some cause unknown, Mr. II. fell out with his 
body servant and chained him to a log of wood, and 
whipped him severely. Tie went out the next day to 
repeat the dose, when the despised slave, enraged at 
the treatment, broke loose from the log, seized it, and 



146 A II air-dresser's experience 

dashed Mr. H.'s brains out before the eyes of his fam- 
il}'. It appears that, althougli a slave, he was de- 
scended from one of the highest southei-n families, and 
inherited all the proud feeling and independent spirit 
the Southerners generally pride themselves on. 

After a short time had elapsed, I engaged with a 
gentleman and his sister, who came to New Orleans 
and engaged me to wait on a very gay lady, the gen- 
tleman's wife, who resided in the vicinity of Natchez, 
on a very beautiful plantation. The lady was not on 
good terms with her husband's family ; therefore, 
when I went, she was so provoked to think they 
would not allow her to retain her old maid, that she 
determined not to take me, because they had engaged 
me; and whenever she decided on doing anything in 
opposition to his family, she was not to be changed. 
She was, nevertheless, kind to me, for she had en- 
deavored to secure my services some seasons before ; 
but I was not able to engage with her at that time, 
owing to a prior engagement with a young lady who 
had been formerly engaged to her husband, and I be- 
lieve he loved her till her marriage. 

The gentleman's family and numerous ladies in 
Natchez felt very indignant at her disappointing me ; 
but 1 saw through it immediately ; it was because I 
had been waiting on the other young lady, who was 
perfectly' beautiful, gentle, mild and amiable, and more 
than all, immensely wealthy. Miss F. was of medium 
bight, splendid form, had large, full black eyes, and 
such a ])rofusion of curls as are seldom seen ; while 
the lady Mr. D. married had light hair, light blue 
eyes, and an alabaster complexion She also was 
called a great beauty in the East. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 147 

Although the match was broken off on account of 
family difficulties, 1 can testify that the love was not 
broken off. This occurred in the fall of the year. The 
following winter Miss F.'s mother took her to New 
Orleans, where she reigned belle, but still appeared 
to cherish a fondness for her former lover. In the 
spring Mr. D. went East through the influence of his 
family. When he arrived there, some of bis friends 
set to work to make the match between him and this 
beautiful blonde, when it was well known he loved 
the beautiful brunette. In a month or so he was en- 
gaged, and in two or three months he was married. 

Mr. D.'s family and the family of Miss F. stopped 
at the same hotel ; in fact the rooms were so closely 
connected, they could both see and hear all the pre- 
parations for his approaching marriage. 1 knew all 
the particulars of the affair, though Miss F. was not 
aware of it. I could not but admire the manner in 
which she acted, as I knew very well the quarrel was 
not between the two, but between their mothers. 

'Twas in the summer I was with Miss F. In the 
fall Mr. D. and the beautiful blonde were married. 
In the winter they went to New Orleans, where Mr. 
D., his bride, and Miss F."s family happened again 
to be in the same hotel. My services were not con- 
fined to either family, but while in New Orleans I 
worked for the families of all the planters of Louisiana 
and Mississippi. While attending on the bride, I 
often spoke of the amiability of Miss F., when Mr. 
D. would always join in, and declare Miss F. was 
perfectly beautiful, gentle and amiable — which seemed 
in no way to displease his bride, as she was at that 
time not only beautil'ul but lovely herself She had 



148 A iiair-deesser's experience 

jnst commenced her career as belle, and seemed no 
way put out at the praises bestowed on Miss F. 

The season was gay and brilliant. The bride had 
many parties given in her honor; she attended all the 
"hops" at the St. Charles, and I have seen groups of 
people stand to look at her when she came down 
stairs ; and often, as she passed through the iiall, the 
different doors would be opened, and persons peep out 
after her — she was so perfectly beautiful. All this 
was, of course, very flattering to her. 

After a few seasons — and a very few — they com- 
menced picking her, as they did other belles, at hotels, 
watering-places, and every other place where belles 
are the general topic of conversation ; but she was 
perfectly indifferent as to the opinion of the world, as 
she had not only beauty, but wealth to back it, and 
had no worldly cares — neither child, nor pet of any 
kind. So she continued her visits to the fashionable 
watering-places, winter and summer. 

A young man who was grandchild to one of our 
great Kentucky statesmen, having gone to New Or- 
leans quite young, fell into the hands of gamblers. 
His father detected him in gambling, and made very 
severe threats what he would do, if he ever caught 
him again. It appeared that this young man had cul- 
lected some money fur his lather and lost it, and 
through fear of his lather, he chose death rather than 
meeting him. lie told one of the men at the gam- 
bling house to come at seven o'clock the next day, to 
get a check. The gambler came at the appointed 
time, and found the young man dead. lie had gone 
home, undressed, and, after getting into bed, put a 
pistol under his jaw and blew his brains out. I saw 



IN IIIOII LIFE. 149 

the corpse witli my own eyes. IIo was tall and slim, 
veiy lair, and had dark hair. 

Did this throw a gloom over the honse ? No ; for 
that very evening there was a tremendous large ball. 
The corpse was immediately taken away, and placed 
in a vault, and at the first opportunity sent to Ken- 
tucky. For my own part, the gloom did not wear 
off for a month; and I thought if I crossed the hall, 
that ghosts and hobgoblins were right beiiind me; and 
when I would go home at night, I would light three or 
four candles and place them in every part of the room, 
for the hospital was just opposite where 1 lived, and I 
knew every death that took place — man, woman, or 
child — by the toll of the bell. When a man would 
die, it would strike three times ; a woman, twice, and 
a child, once; and never a night passed but it would 
toll several times. I must langh now to think how 
frightened I was one day in going down the back 
stairs. 1 heard some one coming down very rapidly 
behind me; when I turned round I found it to be a 
gentleman who had just left a lady's apartment who 
he had been in the habit of visiting in her husband's 
absence, and as soon as he heard him come up the 
front stairs, he would rush down the back stairs. I 
went to the lady's room to see what was the matter, 
and I found her almost fainting for fear her hus- 
band had seen the man ; while the husband, fright- 
ened, thinking his wife very sick, was putting back 
her massive curls to bathe her temples. The gentle- 
man was frightened for fear he had been seen; and I, 
also, friglitened on account of his haste. However, I 
got til rough that week very quietly, without seeing 
liobiJjoblins or beinir friiihtened to death. 



150 A iiair-drksser's experience 

I remember well a lady and iier two daughters who, 
about this time, came to New Orleans. The daugh- 
ters were very gay, and very pretty. The first time I 
saw their mother she was in the hall speculating in 
pianos, and the next time I saw her she was in her 
own room. I did not know her again, as, when I had 
first seen her, she had jet black hair, a profusion of 
curls, clear red and white complexion, and magnifi- 
cent teeth; her eyes shone like diamonds; she was 
tall, slender, and apparently a magnificent form. On 
entering the room, I saw her sitting on a chair. I 
looked half a dozen times for the lady, when she ex- 
claimed, "Here I am; don't you know me?" "No, 
madam, I did not know you." " By George, no won- 
der; I have not got on my pretties." Her hair was 
white, and her beautiful curls were all false; her com- 
plexion was eau de heaute, hlond de j)earl, and rouge; 
her teeth were the most perfect deception that ever was 
made, and her beautiful form was a perfect skeleton ; 
and to hear her swear, I will acknowledge I was 
frightened for once by a woman. 

While I was speaking to her, a handsome, amiable- 
looking girl stepped in, and said, "Oh, ma, why are 
you not dressed before this !" She replied, " Oh, don't 
you know I was out playing cards till near three 
o'clock." Hearing her speak in this manner before a 
stranger, her daughter shook her head, when she said, 
"Oh, thunder, by gingocs, there's no use shaking your 
head ; she will soon get to know me, and like me, 
too." But she did not know me — for I did not like 
such ladies. Her daughters I became very much at- 
tached to; they were elegant, graceful and amiable 
uirls — the eldest rather more so than the other. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 151 

In a few days I again saw this same lady in Camp- 
street, buying and selling bales of cotton ; at another 
time I saw her in a wholesale store, buying sacks of 
coffee, and speculating on them. There was a family 
in the hotel, from off the coast, who had with them a 
very pretty maid, and a very good hair-dresser. She 
made her dissatisfied with her owner, that she might 
purchase her; she told the girl that so soon as she 
would earn what she paid for her, besides fixing her 
two daughter's heads, she would give her her freedom. 
The maid brought home forty dollars every month, 
until she had nearly paid for herself; this woman then 
turned roimd and sold her for very near as much again 
as she paid for her — saying nothing of what the girl 
had paid her. She then left the hotel and went trav- 
eling. I did not see her again for a long time, but 
frequently heard of her. 

On one occasion I saw a very nice free girl. She 
proposed to this girl to sell her, and divide the money 
between them, and then she was to kick up a row and 
swear she was free, 1 have seen many ladies, but 
never one that loved money as she did. Notwithstand- 
ing all her improper conduct, her daughters kept a fair 
position in society, more particularly with gentlemen. 

Several seasons passed away, and I did not see or 
hear of this woman, till one season, on leaving Wash- 
ington City, she happened to be on the same train, 
but not in the same car, with me. Sitting in the same 
seat with her, was a green, country woman. On my 
passing through the cars, I saw her in deep conversa- 
tion with this woman, and knew immediately she was 
striking up some trade; so I took a seat in the same 
car she was in, to notice her maneuvers. 
13 



162 A hair-dresser's experience 

All at once I saw her jump up and, with the wo- 
man, go into a small room, called the ladies' dressing- 
room; in a few moments she came out, laughing, and 
I saw she had changed her dress. I then went up to 
her and asked her why she changed her dress; she 
said, "By George, I had a good chance to sell it, and 
I sold it. I have worn it for a year or so, and I got as 
much as I gave for it. It wont be long till the cars 
are in Philadelphia, and I have got a waist and long 
sleeves under my shawl, and then the girls will have 
plenty of new dresses for me from the mantuamakers." 
She went to Philadelphia, and I did not see anything 
of her till about in the middle of the season, when 
she came to Saratoga, The salute I got from her was, 
"Halloo, langy !" When I turned around and saw it 
was her ladyship, I told her she looked very well. 
She said, "Yes ; I come here to drink water, recruit, 
and get a husband." I asked her where she had been 
all this time ; she said she had been in the New York 
Hotel, she and the girls, raising the devil, and having 
more fun than a little, "Now," says she, "I have 
come here, and the girls are going to be helles here, I 
can tell you that. Moreover, Pet has got a rich beau, 
but he is so old he can hardly stand straight," and she 
laughed at the top of her voice. 

She made her youngest daughter make the old man 
believe she was desperately in love with him, and tiie 
mother pretended to give her consent. She could find 
no other way to speculate, so she speculated with her 
daughter's hand. The old man gave her a diamond 
ring worth several hundred dollars, an old family relic, 
they say. It was an expensive and elegant ring. She 
made him settle a large amount of property on her 



IN HIGH LIFE. 153 

daughter, and got money from him herself. She went 
to a dress-maker's with the ring, and told her to raffle 
it off for three hundred dollars, at twenty-five dollars 
a chance. The dress-maker retained the ring for 
some time; but, as she did not feel very safe 
with it in her possession, returned it, and said she 
could not raffle it off. She took the ring, and there is 
no telling what she did with it. She then took sev- 
eral boxes of goods, and was going to leave them at 
the dress-maker's ; but the dress-maker would not 
have anything to do with them ; she knew there was 
something wrong, and a lady of her disposition did 
not care whether she got any one in trouble or not. 

The season ended in Saratoga, and she, getting as 
much money as possible from the old man, started for 
Europe. The old man died, and she married her two 
daughters off, and remained herself in Europe, on ac- 
count of the fuss about the property the old man set- 
tled on her. When I was in New York there was 
great confusion about the property and money the old 
man placed in her hands. The family grieved very 
much for the ring, and other pieces of jewelry belong- 
ing to the family. 

I suppose that many of my readers would like to 
know where such a noble lady came from. She was 
from the South, although, when 1 was there, the South- 
erners were not proud to own her; and I am sure the 
North would not claim her. In the mean time my 
readers might ask, where is her husband. A difficulty 
arose between a gentleman, a great gallant of hers, 
and her husband ; the former went in her husband's 
office one day and shot him, and he died some time 
after ; she ever since has been like the Wandering Jew. 



154 A hair-dresser's experience 

A few years ago, in Louisiana, there was a family 
of three sons, one of them an invalid; they had a 
mulatto servant with them, who was, in stature, color 
and disposition, pretty much the same as the brothers, 
only a shade or so darker. This invalid brother would 
have no one to wait on him, he would not be tau^^ht 
anything, nor would he eat or drink unless he was 
waited on, taught and served by this mulatto. So 
they had to have this servant taught, to enable him to 
teach their brother. All this annoyed the other broth- 
ers very much. 

In the course of a tew years the father died. On 
his decease it was found that this mulatto was his son, 
and half-brother to those he waited on. The father 
dying suddenly, left him unprovided for. In a short 
time the sickly brother died, and then the two broth- 
ers tried to quarrel with him, and at one time tried to 
whip him, but he gave them a pretty good turn, and, 
when they were asleep, locked them in the room, and, 
taking as much money as he wanted, left the country. 

As he was in the habit of traveling with his 
younger brother, there was nothing thought of it till 
he got to New York, lie there married a white girl, 
and it was there I saw and conversed with him. He 
told me where I could find his mother, and requested 
me, when I went back to Louisiana, to find her, and tell 
her 1 had seen hira, and all the particulars at tlie same 
time. He told me he was never struck a blow but 
once in his life, and that was by his brother; and he 
said he felt he would be willing to die to have re- 
venge. 

Some may think it strange that a white woman 
should marry a colored man in the North, not know- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 155 

ing he was colored ; but it is not more so thau a rich 
white lady of Virginia, who was a lelle at the St. 
Charles, and every place she visited, marrying a man, 
said to be a millionaire, whose mother was a mulatto, 
and his father a Frenchman, who sent him to Paris 
and had him educated. He came back highly edu- 
cated, a wealthy gentleman, and greatly sought after 
for Ills millions and his handsome appearance, and he 
married this great helle. Many knew who he was, 
but on account of his millions and his father, nothing 
was said. His mother I saw, a few years ago, in Mas- 
sachusetts; she would not know him if she saw him. 
And there are many in the same situation ; for I know 
two sisters now, who often visit Saratoga, from St. 
Louis, who married two brothers on account of their 
wealth. They are very nice women ; but it is known 
by many that they were born in slavery, but raised 
free, and well educated. On one occasion, while in 
Saratoga, they were coming to the dinner-table, and 
some ladies, who came along, said they were not 
white, they looked like negroes. One of their hus- 
bands, a fine-looking man, heard the remark, and af- 
ter dinner sought out the husband of the lady, who 
was a diminutive bit of a creature, and made him 
take back all his wife had said ; he was glad to do so 
with many apologies, and the next morning he and 
his family were missing. All this is nothing; for, in 
our Queen City of the West, I know hundreds of mu- 
lattoes who are married to white men, and lawfully 
married. Some of these pass for white, and some, 
again, are so independent they will be thought noth- 
ing but what they are. 

A few years ago there was a marriage in Saratoga 



156 A nAIR-DKESSER's EXPERIENCE 

of a gentleman belonging to one of the best families 
of South Carolina. This occurred through the effects 
of alcohol. Several years ago a chambermaid was 
proved to be not respectable, and she was turned out 
from the hotel. She led an immoral life for some 

time, when Mr. married her. He could get no 

one to marry them, till at length he found out an old 
country parson, who performed the ceremony. There 
were great preparations for them to start to Charles- 
ton ; but, I am told, at a certain station she was shoved 
ofl* the cars, and they went on without her. Whether 
it was a compromise of bis friends, I know not, but 
the apartments which he had engaged for the ensuing 
season were empty in Saratoga. There are a great 
many queer matches; one of them was a match of a 
gentleman of high rank and standing, with an Indian 
squaw. There was a camp of Indians near there, and 
many gentlemen chose their wives from among the 
squaws. This gentleman married her in the morning, 
and took her away with him. Several of these squaws 
have married men of high standing. 

I knew a colored man who belonged to a family in 
Lexington, Ky. The children taught him to read and 
write, unknown to their parents. For some slight of- 
fense he was sold to a family in Bigbury; and the 
master found him writing passes for the servants to 
all parts of the city, and letters, when he was again 
sold, to a family living in Mississippi. 

They put him to work in a cotton patch, but the 
head waiter in the house used to steal him newspapers 
to read, and at twelve o'clock they, the slaves, would 
go to their meals and return in a very short time, and 
they would lay in the grass around a tree, while he 



IN HIGH LIFE, 157 

sat in the tree reading to them out of the newspaper. 
At last it was noticed that the slaves all hurried 
through their meals, and it was thought so strange to 
see them all congregated together, that their master 
undertook to find out the reason. One of the young 
masters hid himself in one of the trees near to the one 
they were surrounding. They all came from their 
meals as usual, and he began to read the newspaper 
to them, he being in the tree, and they laying around. 
It was the time of the trouble between England and 
the United States on the account of McLeod, and he 
was explaining all the particulars, telling them Eng- 
land was threatening war, and what their course of con- 
duct should be. When the master found out what 
they were about, he called this man to the house and 
questioned him; he acknowledged what he had done 
as he always did from the first. They then told him 
if he would not tell the servants, and leave the coun- 
try in two hours, they would let him go; he did so, 
and went to Canada, 1 afterward saw him there at the 
Custom House, and we had quite a long talk. 

Some will say it is very queer and they can not un- 
derstand how the slaves get so enlightened ; it is very 
easily understood. Some of them are very easily 
learned, and if a family has a favorite servant they 
will treat them as one of the family, but for the 
slightest ofi'ense they will sell them, and if they 
can, to the farthest plantation possible, and they 
will of course teach others. 

When I commenced going down South, a widow and 
an overseer could, without difficulty manage a hundred 
slaves, now it takes three overseers and the master to 
rule the same number; times are fast, masters and 



158 A haik-dkessek's experience 

mistresses are getting mure eulightenecl, and so are 
servants. I know gentlemen and ladies who would 
not put on a suit of clothes without the servants say it 
is suitable, but if the same servants chance to offend 
them, they will sell them to go as far as cars and boats 
will carry them. 

1 know a widow lady who lives in Mississippi, she 
comes down to New Orleans every season to provide for 
her plantation. She is very much thought of and sought 
after, more particularly by merchants, on account of 
her immense wealth, her name is i\lrs. G. ; she came to 
the St. Charles and staid some days there. I had the 
pleasure of waiting on this honorable lady ; she left to 
go home, and I went in the same boat to make a visit 
to a plantation further on. It seems the steward had 
offended her in some way, coming down, and on our 
going back again, when the boat stopped at her plan- 
tation, the steward came forward, expecting a dollar 
or so as steward's fee, slie handed him a little package 
and told him to carry it for her; there were about 
tiity or so of her servants came down to see her on 
her arrival, and when the steward came among them, 
she told them that fellow had insulted her, when they 
all put after him like a parcel of blood-hounds, and he 
had to actually jump into the water to reach the plank 
to get on board the boat, or they would have torn him 
in pieces. Such devotion is from kindness. She is a 
kind mistress. 

In the same neighborhood, a short time before, a 
lady was attempted to be poisoned three times by her 
slaves for her cruelty to them. Was this lady a Loui- 
siana lady 'i No, she was not, she was from the North, 
and was one who had to work for her living before 



IN HIGH LH^'E. 159 

going South ; these are always the worst of mistresses. 
1 remember a colored woman who was raised in Cin- 
cinnati, and her parents and iamily now live in the 
midst of our city ; she is now a slave-holder in the 
city of New Orleans ; the most tyranical, overbearing, 
cruel task-mistress that ever existed ; so you can see 
color makes no difference, the propensities are the 
same, and those who have been oppressed themselves, 
are the sorest oppressors. It is a well known fact, 
those who are as black themselves as the ace of spades 
will, if they can, get raulatoes for slaves, and then tlie 
lirtit word is "my nigger." 

In the South, both whites and blacks, if they have 
but one garment to their back, must have a servant. 
I was a good deal amused one day to hear a dispute 
between a white and a colored woman ; the colored 
woman was from New York, but was very wealthy, 
having accumulated quite a little fortune; the white 
woman was also from the North, and she had not been 
so fortunate in worldly matters: their dispute com- 
menced on politics, and the white woman at lengtli 
got so angry with some remarks of the other, that she 
started for the house, while in a voice quivering with 
passion, exclaimed, I dont care, 1 have the law on my 
side if you have the money, while the other laugh- 
ingly replied, excuse me madam, I have both. Not- 
withstanding there is so much hatred between the two 
colors, and so much enmity exists, they will associate 
much more so in the slave States than in the free 
States. There is a great deal of sociability between 
the free colored and the rich whites in the slave States, 
but when you come to the lower orders of both, there 
is decided enmity. I will give you a little instance 



160 A hair-dresser's experience 

that I saw with my own eyes, aiid I know both parties 
well, the white 1 knew when I was a little girl in New 
York. 

A family named B , having had some trouble 

in bank business, left New York and went to New 
Orleans. After my being in New Orleans several 
seasons, I found them out by visiting next door to 
them ; the lady next door was colored, and kept ele- 
gant furnished rooms. As I told you before, there are 
numbers here make fortunes, and it is a common thing 
to have these furnished rooms, and in no mean street 
either, but side by side with some of the very best 
mansions are these furnished apartments. They are 
generally occupied by gentlemen, who take their meals 
at the St. Charles, and sleep in these apartments ; 
and it is not thought anything if the landlady is 
colored ; even to this day, it is very fashionable for 
gentlemen to take their families to these rooms. 

The colored lady who kept the house I have men- 
tioned, was very beautiful and very wealthy; she 
owned a great deal of property and many slaves, and 
kept two houses more like some of the elegant man- 
sions of the nobility, than anything else. She in- 
herited this property by her husband and master, he 
emancipated her, and then finding himself about to 
be involved in his business, he made all over to lur — 
property, money and shares — a short time after, \\c 
died, leaving her in possession of all his wealth. 
Several gentlemen were going to see her at one time ; 

one of these gentlemen, was a Mr. B . They 

made proposals to her, not exactly' of matrimony, but. 
by them considered in the same holy light as lawful 
marriage; she flattered Mr. B for some time, 

■ 4': 



IN HIGH LIFE. 161 

making him believe she would take him for her lawful 
'''' jylaceyery'' but when the evening came on that he 
looked for the fulfillment of her promise, she deceived 
him, and took another. He went home and blew 
out his brains right in his father's house. Did 
these people treat her with contempt? No, they 
always treated her both before and after that as a 
lady, and the last time I was in New Orleans they 
were living beside each other, in good neighborhood 
and good fellowship, and she was seen daily going out 
to the grave-yard strewing flowers over his tomb. 
Such occurrences as these are frequent, I could 
neither find paper nor time to tell you half of such 
things as came under my notice. 

I will now tell you of a lady I know, who was raised 
in high life in New York. She married a gentleman 
from the South, a very elegant looking man, and she 
thought wealthy, supposing the wealth followed the 
looks — as the northern ladies generally think when a 
man comes from the South, who is fine looking, ele- 
gantly dressed, and so forth, he must be wealthy, but 
it is not so, for many come to the North to pick up a 
rich wife, that are depending on the wages of some 
poor old man or woman, and it may be, had their 
lands to mortgage to get the money for them to flour- 
ish on. I myself, went to the house this lady's hus- 
band brought her to, a few miles from Memphis, am! 
found it a log cabin; true she had a piano and som^ 
pieces of silver, and a great many costly things that 
were presented her on her leaving New York to go to 
her wealthy home. What a change for her from her 
three story brick on a fashionable street, to a little 
log cabin in the country, a few miles from Memphis ! 



1G2 A hair-dresser's experience 

Gentlemen do not think they are deceiving ladies in 
acting so, as they know ladies are taking them for their 
good looks and elegant appearance, and of course they 
think themselves a prize ; and I know ladies who, on 
finding themselves so deceived, were ashamed to ac- 
knowledge it, and such often come to the North and 
boast of the riches and splendor of their southern 
liome. 

During the year 18 — , I was in New Orleans ; the 
season was as gay as any I had ever passed there ; 
all was bright and brilliant. The St. Charles was 
crowded with people from all parts of the country ; 
Madam Levert and Frederica Bremer were of the num- 
ber. Great preparations were making for Jenny Lind, 
who was then in Cuba ; among the rest was a gay 
married woman from Mississippi, whom I and numbers 
of others know to bo a gay and fashionable lady ; to 
my thinking she not only wore her crinoline but his 
pantaloons. She had at the hotel four children and 
several servants, and occupied two rooms, parlor and 
bedroom. She very seldom allowed the children to 
come in the parlor, but kept them with their nurse in 
the bedroom, unless on very particular occasions. 

One day, while the children and nurse were out 
walking, I was in her bedroom combing her hair, 
when there came a knock at the door, she said, come 
in, and, to my surprise, a gentleman walked in and 
took a seat. They immediately commenced a conver- 
sation in French, when he told her to take care, as 
maybe 1 understood French, but she said, no, she is 
from the upper country, and does not know anything 
we are saying. So I combed away, and heard all their 
conversation. Their plan was to go to a fancy store, 



IN HIGH LIFE. 163 

on the corner of Royal and St. Lonis, a door opening 
on Royal and one on St. Louis. She was to go in at 
one door and a carriage was to be in waiting at tlie 
other, in which they were to drive to the Lake. The 
blinds were to be drawn, as if somebody was in it 
sick ; she then told him in French, he had better go, 
as it was near the hour her husband come to lunch 
with her. 

As soon as he left, I went and fastened the door, 
took my chair, and sat down right before her, and 
told her, word for word, what they had been saying, 
and told her never to treat any person with contempt 
before another because she was rich and highly educa- 
ted, for there were many simple looking people, and 
poor people, who understood more than those who were 
speaking of them. 

The lady became very much agitated, so much so 
that I feared she would faint, when I reassured her, 
by saying I would not expose her ; I told her the cir- 
cumstance I would mention, but never her name, as 
that should go to the grave with me ; she offered me 
money, but I told her money never would seal my lips, 
nor anything except kindness. I then told her of a 
gentleman from Lexington, who came to me and tried 
to bribe me to answer just one question about some 
circumstance that occurred in Kentucky, which would 
place a lady in his power, so he offered me a seventy- 
live dollar silk dress if I would only answer him. She 
asked me if I gave him an answer, I told her no, I 
never did, nor I never would. She told me it was only 
a joke, as she was only fooling the gentleman, and did 
not intend to meet him ; however, 1 had business at 
the St. Louis, and as it happened to be about the hour 



164 A hair-dresser's EXrERIENCE 

I went there to comb that she had made the appoint- 
ment, I determined to see for myself, particularly as 
she had promised me she would not go. Shortly after 
I got there she came down the street, went in one 
door, purchased some little article, went out at the 
other door and into the carriage she went, I said no 
more to her, though I combed her for several weeks, 
as I had many such ladies, though their position was 
such no one would ever think of impeaching them. 

My associate hair-dresser had a lady who, she said, 
was very difficult and hard to please, so she gave her 
over to me and I gave her one of my ladies, both of 
us pretending the hours would not suit. I found lier 
very easy to get along with ; after combing her for 
some time I found there was something wrong between 
her husband and herself; she was from Pittsburg and 
he also; they had been coming there for numbers of 
years. She one day asked me if I could keep a secret. 
I told her most assuredly I could, but I could keep it 
better if it was not told me. She said she for some 
time had her eye on me, as she thought me a bold, 
independent woman, and she asked me if 1 would go 
with her that afternoon out walking. I agreed, and we 
went out. 

She took me into the French part of the city, where, 
after walking for several squares, we came to a little 
low, French built house, from appearance uninhabited, 
as it was all closed up, and looked as if no human 
being, but rats alone lived there. On going in the 
house she sat down and asked me if we had been seen 
coming there would I take the responsibility on myself. 
I told her that depended altogether on the nature of 
the case. Slie then told me the reason she had brought 



IN HIGH LIFE. 165 

11)0 to this strange house. She had taken a letter out 
of her husband's pocket the night before, from a female, 
sa3ang she left the key with the hotel porter, and 
would meet him there, and if he could not come at that 
time not to come till the next day, as one of the other 
gentlemen would be there that day, so she got the key 
and determined to be there to meet her husband. 

I told her if I had known such was her object in 
coming I would not have come with her on any ac- 
count, as it might end badly, for assuredly her hus- 
band would not overlook meeting her in such a place, 
and I feared it would result in no good to her ; how- 
ever, after expostulating a long time with her I at 
length asked her to come to a fortune-teller's and 
have her fortune told and we could come back there 
again ; she readily consented to go. Before leaving, 
however, we concluded to look round the place, it was 
certainly as curious a house as I ever saw. 

The first room we went into was all lined, in place 
of papered ceiling and walls, with crimson oiled 
calico; there was a couch covered with the same, and 
also the chairs ; there was but one mirror in the room. 
The next room was lined in like manner with oiled 
calico, but instead of crimson it was blue ; the bed 
had a blue spread, and an elegant lace musquito bar; 
a wash-stand was in one corner with, everything on 
it belonging to a wash-stand, and in the other corner 
was a bureau, with everything on it a lady could re- 
quire, even to paint and powder. In the third room 
were bottles of good old wine, bottles of champaign, 
dry wine, old bourbon, and every kind of liquor that 
could be desired; on a table spread in the middle 
of the floor were two or three packs of cards, with 



166 A hair-dresser's experience 

segars for both ladies and gentlemen ; and on the man- 
tlepiece were various novels. On examining some of 
these she declared most positively they were her books. 
While she sat down to look over them, panting for 
breath as if much agitated, I heard some one at the 
door trying to get in, I told her to keep quiet till I 
should go to the door ; when I opened it I found 
a well known old citizen of this city and a married 
lady, also well known, and moving in a very high 
circle, who was the mother of several children, I told 
the gentleman, in an under tone, not to come in as 
there was something wrong, but to meet me at the 
hotel in two hours and I would explain all things to 
him. He and the lady went away, looking very much 
excited. I went back and told her it was only a man 
inquiring for some family who had lived there, and 
that it was time for us to go. We got ready and 
started, I slipping under my arm the books she had 
been looking at. When we came to the fortune-tel- 
ler, I, having managed to get a moment's private con- 
versation with the latter, told her, among other things, 
to say to the lady she had been looking over some 
books and thought they belonged to her, but she 
would find hers at home when she went there. I 
told her also to speak well of the lady's husband. 
After staying there some time, I told the lady it was 
too late to go back to the house, so we started home. 
On the way there I pretended to have dropped the 
key and lost it, telling the lady to wait in the parlor 
while I went back to look for it ; I run up stairs to her 
room, and put the books under some papers. Return- 
ing again to the parlor, 1 handed her the key, and she 
\\ent up to her room; when she got there, she found 



IN HIGH LIFE. 167 

the books there ; and as I met hor husband coming np 
stairs and told him enough to put him on his guard, 
he went up and told his wife of a letter he had lust 
out of his pocket, belonging to another gentleman of 
the same name that was in the house ; lie had got the 
letter and mysteriously lost it. The lady hearing this 
story, finding the books, and remembering what the 
fortune-teller had told her, at once became convinced 
she had been mistaken, and of course her husband, in 
her eyes, was exonerated from all blame. 

The next day, on going to my room, I found a very 
beautiful Cameo bracelet and ten gold dollars, together 
with a note of thanks for the shrewd and delicate way 
in which I had managed the little matter. Did this 
satisfy me? No, nor would anything else till I had 
given him a good lecture. I told him it was a good 
lesson for me as I never would be caught in a like 
manner again. I gave him such a talking to, 1 am 
sure he remembered some of my words to bis dying 
day. 

Some time passed away, and great preparations 
were making for the arrival of Jenny Lind. I was 
one day combing a lady in the fourth story, when I 
heard a great noise up in the fifth ; I ran out and 
asked what was wrong, when one of the servants told 
me there was a fire. I went back and told the lady 
they said there was a fire, but not to be alarmed, and 
told her to remain there while I went to see if there 
was any danger. I went up stairs and found they 
could not get at the fire as it was between the ceilings. 
The proprietor said there was no danger, and insisted 
there was no fire, but that a little smoke had got be- 
tween the ceilings. When the firemen came, they 
14 



168 A iiair-deessek's experience 

would not let them in, still maintaining there was no 
fire. In the meantime I had got two men, and had 
Madam L's baggage taken down although they still 
persisted in saying there was no danger. I had burs- 
ted open the door to have the baggage removed ; bv 
this time the flame had made its appearance, and every 
one was for himself. The news then reached Madam 
L., who, with Frederica Bremer, had gone to the da- 
guerrean gallery; they, with their servants, and some 
friends, then came home and took possession of their 
own baggage. 1 then went down to another room, 
where there was a gentleman and his wife sick, helped 
to dress them, took the lady in my arms, and carried 
her down to the parlor, and laid her on the sofa. 

The excitement that was in that house then, I sup- 
pose never was surpassed, since or before. Some 
losing all they had on earth, others destroying many 
things by the way in which they used them. Ladies 
who had gentleman friends there to assist in packing 
up, 1 am sure, on opening their parcels again, regretted 
the packing, as elegant brussels laces, fine bonnets, 
shoes, and everything were put together in a promis- 
cuous heap, in it may be a bed quilt, or some such 
thing. Those who had presence of mind to pack up 
their trunks, were ofiering porters five dollars to carry 
them over from the St. Charles to the Yerandah, which 
was only a few steps, but they could not get them to 
take the trunks for that. There were gentlemen 
shouldered trunks that day, I suppose never did 
such a thing before or ever will again, unless on a simi- 
lar occasion. 

1 was a good deal amused at a young lady who was 
sitting in the parlor with her lover when the cry of 



IN HIGH LIFE, 169 

fire was first raised ; she deliberately walked up stairs, 
got her bonnet and shawl on, and went over to the 
Verandah to secure a room ; she then went out to look 
at the house burning, as it was said to be the most 
beautiful and grand sight that was ever witnessed. 
She was asked if her baggage was saved, she said 
yes, when she had neither given up the key nor sent 
any one to look after her baggage, though it was very 
valuable ; it seemed as if she was so perfectly fascina- 
ted with her beaux, and so excited by the fire, she was 
perfectly sure she had her baggage secured, and so lost 
all her clothes and money too. Her uncle had been 
there with her, and had only left that morning. She 
did not know the contrary till evening, when she was 
to have her head dressed for dinner, for notwithstand- 
ing all the excitement of the fire, there were but a 
very few who did not want their heads dressed the 
same as usual. All those who were able, secured 
rooms at the Yeraridah or the neighboring hotels. It 
was amusing to see for weeks afterward, in all the 
hotels and boarding-houses such crowding together as 
there was. I could scarcely say which amused me 
most, to see the people running around, hunting up 
their friends, or to see them running into stores, on 
galleries, or the roofs of houses during the fire, to see 
the dome of the hotel fall. 

Many who were witnessing the burning of this 
grand floating palace, on their return, had no homes 
to go to, as their own had been burnt up. There were 
a number of houses burnt that day, and some churches. 
For my own part, I have no remembrance of ever 
making myself so generally useful as on that day, and 
was so worn out from ffoinj^ up and down stairs so re- 



170 A hair-dresser's experience 

peatedl}'. that it was weeks before 1 felt myself well 
again. 

All the excitement of the fire was soon forgotten, 
and the gayety resumed ; and I had then to comb at 
the Verandah, and the St. Louis also. The first and 
st'cond time I went to the St. Louis, I found every 
thing pretty much like the St. Charles — every thing 
conducted with a great deal of order. It was but a 
short time till there was a fuss raised between tlie two 
sets of boarders — the St. Charles boarders thought 
themselves superior to those at the St. Louis, and the 
St. Louis boarders thought the St. Charles' presuming. 

While combing two ladies, from Bigbnry, who were 
in the habit of stopping at the St. Charles, I found 
tliem very angry, and, on inquiry, they said they 
owned hundreds of slaves, but would not sit at the 
table with negro-drivers and negro-traders. I said, 
"Neither would I, madam, sit at the table with any 
snch persons; even the Old Boy himself would not 
allow them a seat at his table; as I know well, neither 
in heaven nor on earth, nor yet in that unmentionable 
place, will soul-drivers or soul-traders ever have a 
comfortable place. She immediately exclaimed, "Oh, 
there is a necessity for such men, but I do not wish to 
associate with them." I told her I did not see any 
necessity for such people at all, as, if every man was 
honest, and earned his bread by the sweat of his 
brow — as you, madam, will see in your Bible — there 
would not be occasion for such terror at night, as there 
is no slave-holder, no matter how good he be, if he 
has any conscience at all, can go to bed at night with- 
out fear and terror." I felt my dignity more aroused 
at this moment than at any time during my seven 



IN HIGTI LIFE. 171 

years' visit to the South. I asked lier if she had re- 
marked tliat society in the free States was purer and 
more moral than in the slave States. She said she 
did not see any difference; but I showed her a differ- 
ence by telling her " no man in a free State would dare 
keep his mistress in the same house, or a neighboring 
one, beside his wife; while in a slave State it was a 
common thing for a man to have his mistress in the 
same house with his wife. No matter how elegant or 
beautiful a woman his wife may be, he has a slave in 
the house as a second mistress. I do not say this 
from prejudice, but merely state what my eyes have 
seen ; from the minister down to the lower order of 
men, all keep their slaves." She observed, "Many 
have moved into our State recently from free States." 
I told her that when their hearts were black, and their 
deeds evil, they were glad to move into some place 
where they will be sustained in their deviltry. She 
then said she went North every summer, where she 
saw as many mulattoes as in the South. I said, "Just 
so, madam; those are children sent from the South to 
the North, as all our institutions are filled with gen- 
tlemen's children sent from the South. I spent my 
last winter in Oberlin, Ohio; between three and four 
hundred children were there — two-thirds of them being 
gentlemen's children from the South," 

I had now got so much excited I did not wish to 
continue the conversation, and told her I would see her 
again, when we could finish our subject, as I had staid 
past my time. 1 bade her good -by, and dashed down 
stairs, and on going down, I heard a great shout be- 
low me. I stopped on the stairs and looked down in 
the rotunda, and there was a slave-market. 



172 A HAIR- dresser's experience 

On tlic stand was a young girl who, it appeared, 
had been born in New York, and had gone traveling 
with an unprincipled family, who had undertaken to 
sell her. The girl had the presence of mind, through 
the advice of many friends, to sutler herself to be sold, 
and, as the custom was to undress them to see if they 
were perfect or not, she allowed herself to be partially 
stripped, when, in aloud, shrill tone, she declared they 
should proceed no further. The man who bought her 
came up and told her she was his property now, and 
must do as she was bid ; and as they proceeded to use 
violence, she asked a friend who stood behind her for 
a pen-knife, and ripping open her corset, took out her 
free papers, and, holding them up, demanded who 
dare insult her, or use such violence any more! The 
rascal himself was not present, but the man in whose 
hands he had placed her, was immediately arrested 
and put under bail. 

I stood for some time watching this market. Sev- 
eral were put up and sold off to the highest bidder ; 
some seemed satisSed with their lot, and others, appa- 
rently, grieved to death. I then left, feeling more 
heavily burdened than ever in my life — vowing and 
declaring that 1 would never come another season to 
the South to earn the money that was made so hard 
by others. 

I finished my work that day. My ladies all noticed 
there was something the matter ; and when they asked 
me, 1 said, "Nothing, nothing;" feeling there was 
more the matter than either good feeling or conscience, 
in Louisiana, could relieve. I went home, and for 
several days played sick. Many ladies came to sec 
me; many again sent to know how I was, and what 



IN HIGH LIFE. 173 

was the matter. I must say, while in Louisiana, I 
received not only good pay from ladies, but real kind- 
ness, and numerous invitations to visit the different 
plantations; and everywhere was kindly received, as 
cruelty to the slaves does not come under the observa- 
tion of the ladies' visitors. Did all this make me 
satisfied with the South ? No — it did not. 

A kind lady, thinking I was very sick, came and 
wished to take me on lier sugar .plantation until I 
should recover my health. I told her I felt very much 
obliged to her, but would not go, as I was not so sick, 
but only wounded. She tried to ascertain of me what 
I meant, and I told her I would'tell her before she left 
the city. 

The next day, on going to see the Misses M , I 

resumed my duties. The eldest asked me how I was, 
and hoped it was not our conversation had made me 
ill. I told her it was not. The youngest came up and 
said, "langy, you look nervous." I said, "Madam, 
I am not nervous, nor have I ever been ; do you think 
a poor working- woman could be nervous?" The eld- 
est replied, "Yes; we are all God's creatures, and 
liable to be nervous and sick in various ways." She 
then said, "Tangy, you are tired and worked to death; 
do come home with me and rest yourself, and see how 
we use our slaves." I thanked her warmly, and said 
I would, but I had promised to stop at Natchez and 
learn some ladies' maids to dress hair. We were in- 
terrupted by their father, and on their telling him I 
was sick, he insisted on my going home with them, 
and rang the bell and ordered a sherry cobbler for me. 
I thought how kind he was to me, and how many of 
his poor slaves might die before they would have one 



17i A hair-dresser's experience 

soothing cup of tea made for them. He repeated his 
invitation to me, and said he would give me five hun- 
dred dollars a year to keep house for him and his 
daughters. I told him I would not take all he was 
worth in the world and keep house for him ; he asked 
me my reason, which I was glad to give him. I said 
I yet retained my reasoning faculties and good feeling, 
and if I was there I might lose them, as I have gen- 
erally seen, in slave States, all the people who came 
from free States, when they get slaves under them, 
lose all their better feelings. He gave in to me, and 
did not say anything more about my going as his 
housekeeper. 

I continued on combing the ladies but was now very 
anxious for them to leave so I could get away from 
this place, where I iiave seen people as white as white 
could be and as black as black could get, put up and 
sold in this elegant hotel. On my going in I always 
went by the private door, and tried to come out in the 
same private manner, but it seemed, in spite of my 
feelings, some loadstone or electricity always drew me 
to the rotunda, where I daily saw people, both young 
and old, bought and sold. I have often wondered to 
myself how men can speak so much on the glorious 
cause of freedom and speak of this as the land of lib- 
erty, while they are daily and hourly trafficking in 
human beings, not only that but getting others from 
foreign lands to come here, which does very well in 
free states, but in slave states those poor laboring men 
are looked down on, even by the slaves themselves, 
with contempt, and when the least thing occurs, you 
will always hear them call them poor white folks. Do 
you think the slaves think themselves the inferior 



IN HIGH LIB^E. 175 

class ? no, they do not, for I have seen them in a 
cotton patch or tobacco field, and if anything went 
wrong the worst word of contempt they could have is, 
" too good for poor white people." I do not blame them, 
as mean masters always try to employ the most de- 
graded men they can get, without either feeling or prin- 
ciple, or some old pet slave who has been badly treated 
himself, and will do anything to curry favor, as an 
overseer. 

I saw, a few days ago, a notice in the papers, bur- 
lesquing the American officers for dancing with the 
Ilaytian natives, because the}' were black. Have I not 
seen as fine gentlemen as can be found in North, 
South, East or West, dance with ladies from snow 
white to jet black, and think nothing of it ? 

I will now tell you of a colored person who visits 
this State, whose husband lives in Mississippi, and they 
figure largely at the North, and when this person en- 
ters a store in Natchez or New Orleans, every clerk 
rushes to wait on her, on account of the influence of 
the man she lives with. She has two accomplished 
daughters, whom she occasionally brings to spend the 
summer in our State, and spends the winter down 
South. Her cruelty to her slaves was such, although 
once a slave herself, she was not permitted to stay iu 
Natchez and she had to make her head-quarters in 
New Orleans. She was so crnel to her servants that 
they undertook to burn her alive by setting fire to the 
room below the one she slept in ; she had just time to 
jump on the balcony to save her life, and although she 
tried to make her escape, she was arrested, and was 
not so fortunate as one of her head servants, who, du- 
ring her absence, collected all the rents, and taking all 
15 



176 A hair-dresser's experience 

the clothes slie could lay her hands on, passed through 
the city, and made for Canada. 

1 knew a gentleman who was cashier to one of the 
largest banks in New Orleans who married a colored 
woman. He got a physician to transfer some of her 
blood into his veins and then went to the court and 
swore he had colored blood in him. A gentleman of 
high position from Pennsylvania, having gone down 
South bought him a housekeeper ; as soon as she 
became the mistress of the house, she became hard to 
please. One morning she went in the kitchen to com- 
mand the cook, who answered her impudently ; the 
lady flew to the gentleman, who gave her a note for 
the woman to take to the calaboose, saying, give the 
bearer thirty-nine lashes. The mistress, afraid the 
servant would not get the lashes, took the note herself; 
after reading it the ofiicers took hold of her and cut 
her back ahnost to pieces; she, running home furious, 
showed the gentleman her back, he flew to the cala- 
boose with pistol and bowie knife, but for fear of 
being arrested, did not use tliem. 

During m}^ visits to New Orleans every winter, I 
saw many amusing and afiecting scenes, one of which 
was the following: A servant went to New Orleans 
as nurse, a gentleman of high standing married hei-, 
he bought two slaves, one of whom was a very old 
woman, and, as every bond woman does, she treated 
this "Id woman ver}^ severely, made her get up at four 
o'clock and work about the house, and then do a day's 
work ; if she did not bring her day's earning every 
evi-ning, let iier get it or not, although she was a wo- 
man of titty years of age, she was severely punislu'd. 
The old woman went to a colored woman to get 



IN HIGH LIFE. 177 

work, and as it is not the custom for free people to give 
work to slaves, she told her she had no work ; one day 
she went again to this free colored woman, and find- 
ing no person at home, she sat in a corner and cried ; 
when the woman came in she asked her what was the 
matter ; she told her if she did not bring home the 
money she would be whipped. The woman questioned 
her closely about who she belonged to, who she 
knew in Virginia, and how many children she had, 
and then asked her what marks her children had, and 
all about herself. She found tiiis poor old woman was 
iier own motlier, whom she had not seen for thirty- 
five years. She flew to embrace her when tlie poor 
mother cried and screamed for joy until she gath- 
ered the people round her for squares. It was just the 
hour when business men went to their business, but 
not many of them went to business that day, for I 
never saw men in my life show such sympatli}^ and 
feeling as they did on that occasion ; every gentleman 
was eager to purchase and liberate her if the daughter 
had not been able to have done so ; notwithsta'hding 
the woman was well off and able to purchase her 
mother, fives, tens, and twenties were given to the 
poor old woman to the amount, almost, of the sura 
required. 

The gentleman, seeing the sympathies of the people, 
asked a moderate price for her, but the lady, whose 
anger was aroused, would not give her up on any 
reasonable terms ; but at lengtii she was compelled to 
take for her a moderate price, or nothing, as there was 
so much excitement going on. Just at that time a 
few children were coming by from market, and they 
ran up to her, with five and ten cent pieces, saying, 



178 A hair-dresser's experience 

here, Annty, this will help to buy you, making the 
scene more afi'ecting. 

People congregate at the St. Charles from all the 
different parts of the United States, and during the 
season many come from the different countries of 
Europe. I have known ladies to be six months pre- 
paring, and no expense or pains spared, when coming 
to this place. They are more particular at this hotel 
than any I know of in the Western or Southern count- 
ries ; for instance, every two weeks they have a soiree, 
to which the ladies are entitled to five tickets, and can 
invite any gentleman they wisii ; even the gentlemen 
that boai'd there are not invited, unless there are ladies 
who are acquainted with them. The more gentlemen 
a lady knows tiie greater belle siie is. I have seen 
seven or eight hundred people there at one time, all of 
whom came to enjoy themselves, and well they suc- 
ceeded. One afternoon and evening, I i)ad to dress 
twenty-five heads ; and indeed, it was very amusing 
to hear the different places they were going to ; some 
going to the St. Charles Theater, some to French Opera, 
some to Placide's Theater, some to soirees, some to 
public balls and some to private ones. 

One week I thought I would see how^ many queer 
things would come under my notice ; in the first |)lace 
there was a charming couple from Boston, passing as 
brother and sister, but when it was found tliey were 
not related, tiiey were quietly asked "out." Next day 
the lady wished me to comb her, and be with her as 
much as I could, although she seemed to be in great 
distress. Every day siie, together with a gentleman, 
would take a carriage and leave the hotel for a drive. 
For a day or two, she seemed more and more troubled 



IN HIGH LIFE. 179 

and would pace the floor and wring her hands in the 
greatest distress ; once, on entering her room, I found 
her in deep thought, and, not noticing me, she looked up 
to heaven and said, "Uh, if I should fail," three or four 
times. Tiiat afternoon she got me to help her on with 
a double set of clothing, and, taking a bonnet under 
her shawl, she went away at her usual time. The 
next morning there was a great stir about a lady from 
the St. Charles, who had brought a set of clothing and 
put on her husband, who was in prison, and botli 
made their escape. I learned they were from Baton 
Rouge; the report was that he had forged a bill. 

In a day or two came ofi' one of the grand soirees, 
and it happened that an actress got an invitation, 
through the intimacy of a lady's husband. This raised 
a general row — some saying she ought not to be there, 
and some again saying she should be — the gentlemen 
taking a decided stand, and saying whoever tiie ladies, 
who are regular boarders, invited, should be admit- 
ted. The next day, trying to make my way through 
the ladies' private door, I was interrupted by the 
door-tender, who told me hair-dressers were not al- 
lowed to pass through that door, that they must go 
through the public door; 1 turned in and gave the boy 
a good shaking, and went my way, much to the amuse- 
ment of the ladies and the mortification of the man ; 
there were several ladies of our Queen City tiiere to 
enjoy the sport. I went in a room where there was a 
lady who had recently come from France, and found 
her perfectly furious — nearly foaming with rage and 
anger; she told me there was a lady who slandered 
her. It so happened that a cei'tain lady in the op})osite 
hotel saw a gentleman in this lady's room, and she 



180 A nAIK-DRESSER's EXrERIENCE 

saw the lady dressed in her morning wrapper, which 
she mistook tor a night gown ; she came over and told 
a lady in the hotel of the circumstance. This lady 
was catholic and of Irish descent, and kept the money 
of both males and females of the diflerent servants, and 
this was the reason given for the appearance of tlie 
gentleman in the room; this raised a general stir. 
The lady the report was raised against was a grass 
widow and a very smart woman, and she plead her 
own case, so that nothing could be proved ; then she 
got several lawyers and commenced a suit for her 
character; the lady who made the accusation was an 
officer's wife and the officer had to sign a libel or pay 
heavily. I told my associate hair-dresser that I had 
promised to notice for a week or so, and 1 noticed 
what had happened for two or three weeks, and 1 was 
perfectly tired out, as there was nothing but quarreling 
and fussing, more than I ever noticed in the hotel 
before. 

That season passed away and I returned to the city. 
Tiiere had been many cases of 3'ellow fever in the hotel, 
but it was thoroughly purified and was filling up with 
visitors, amongst them was the family of Zachary 
Taylor; it was during the tiial of Gen. Taylor in Mex- 
ico, and great excitement prevailed all over the Union. 
While every one in the hotel was worried and troubled, 
the family did not at all look alarmed, and a gentle- 
man one day asked Gen. Taylor's daughter whether 
she did not feel worried about her father, she said, 
"Oh, no. Pa means and does what is right, and God 
will protect him." His daughters and neices i-eigned 
belles for weeks. Quiet was restored, no more quar- 
reling or fussing, and 1 never in all the days of my 



IN man life. 181 

life, saw so many matclies made, fur truly, it was the 
t!;reatest market that had been seen in many seasons. 
The lirst thing asked when alady came there was, '' are 
there any rich planters or other rich men here," if 
there are the next saying is, "make me pretty." 1 
will tell you of a circumstance that occurred at 
this time. 

Tliere was a young lady and her aunt, who got ac- 
quainted with a middle aged num who dressed very 
eleuantly, went every night to the Tlieater and Opera, 
and was called a very rich man ; he, however, was but 
an overseer of the plantation and property of a gentle- 
man who was at that time in France. The young 
lady and her aunt went to work to win the gentleman, 
thiidving it was a good match, and the gentleman 
striving to win the young lady, because he thought it 
would be very agreeable to have the aunt's money, as 
she was rich ; he took tliem to what he called his planta- 
tion, and both aunt and niece thought it a very good 
market. Tlie young lady came to me and said, " Oh, 
langy, I am engaged to be married, and I want you 
to devote your time to me for two or three weeks." I 
told here not to be too fast, as all is not gold that glit- 
ters, for I knew the gentleman was not what he 
seemed to be, but as her mind was made up it was not 
for me to say more. I myself s])ent some two hundred 
dollars buying little things, to say nothing of the aunt 
spending fifteen hundred dollars for the wedding. 
They were married, and he took her to the plantation 
and she enjoyed wealth to her satisfaction for some 
time: when the real owner of the plantation came 
home, he had married and brought his bride with him 
to settle up his afl'airs. The overseer's wife was very 



182 A hair-dresser's experience 

indignant at tho privileges the gentleman and liis bride 
took, thinking all was hers ; but her husband said, never 
mind, she might make a short visit to her aunt till 
they would leave. When she got there she found her 
aunt was also engaiijed, and she s-ot married during; 
her stay. Tlie aunt's husband got tired of the niece's 
long visit — so she left and returned home; wlien she 
got there she found that the plantation was sold, and 
her husband was overseer of a neighboring plantation, 
when she, in a rage, kicked up a row, and went back 
to her aunt's. So this young lady lost her husband, 
and all his supposed riches, by her duplicity. 

There is no true knowledge to be had of the wealth 
of the South; for, on some of the plantations on the 
coast they live very sparing — indeed, some of the 
slaves have no hats on, and others are scarcely hall'clad, 
and that of the coarse stufi' that goods are packed in. 
Such families as these make the greatest show at the 
opera-house, in winter, in New Orleans, while, during 
the spring and summer, they barely have enough to 
sustain nature in themselves and slaves. Their slaves 
have nothing provided for them to either eat, drink or 
wear; they work hard all the day, and at night they 
plunder what they can from some of the rich planta- 
tions. If they are not caught, they are smart ; and if 
they are, they are punished. On every New Year 
they have to sell a servant to support the balance the 
rest of the year. 

While combing one of my ladies, she said, "Oh, 
langy, papa is going to buy a housekeeper to-day — 
there is one to be sold down stairs in the rotunda, and 
he is going to buy her. 

I hurried through my work to get my usual stand 



!■■■■■■■■— ^M 



IN HIGH LIFE. 183 

to observe how matters got ulong with this gentleman, 
who said he was so good to his slaves. There was a 
very fine, bright mulatto put up to the highest bidder; 
this gentleman bid for her, but there was another bid 
against him, and thej put the girl up to one thousand 
dollars. The girl then declared this man need not bid 
any higher, as she would never serve him; but he said 
he was determined to have her, and made some threats 
what he would do. She said she did not like his 
looks, and that she had been raised by a lady, and al- 
ways led a virtuous life; and, as there was an under- 
standing between her owner and the seller, that she 
should not be sold to any one she did not like, the sale 
was put off till the next day. 

On the father of these young ladies going up to 
them, they said, from what they had heard of the wo- 
man, they wished him to buy her, even should he pay 
twelve hundred for her. The next day the girl was 
sent up for the young ladies to see. On talking to 
her a little, they liked her so well they told their 
father to buy her should it take two thousand; how- 
ever, he got her for twelve liundred. She was very 
much pleased with her young mistresses and master, 
bundled up with a good grace, and went with them. 

I did not see her again for some four years, when 
one day, as I was combing some ladies in the Burnet 
House, in this city, 1 heard her voice, and knew it. 
On going out in the hall I found her there, with a 
friend of her master, who had sent her up here to be 
emancipated. 

1 asked ber how she got along, and how she liked 
the 3'oung ladies ; she was warm in praise of tliein, 
and said she iiad the first cross word to hear from any 



184 A nAIR-DRESSEK''s EXPERIENCE 

one of them. These young ladies were cousins to a 
lady who married a trader in Nashville, Tenn. They 
often used to ask me about this lady, and I frequently 
remarked that it was a wonder to rae how a refined 
lady, as she seemed to be, could marry sucii a de- 
graded trader. I was not then aware that they were 
connections. 

This lady and her sister visited the St. Charles 
nearly every season, literally loaded with diamonds. 
All the fortune-hunters ran after her, as her husband, 
when he died, left her some millions of dollars; and 
these seekers-of-wealth cared but litttle how the money 
was made, though there were many ladies there who 
would not associate with her owing to her lowering 
herself by marrying such a man. I have known him 
bring, from Nashville and Virginia, the largest droves 
of slaves that were brought into the nuirket ; he has 
often taken a fine child from a poor-looking woman, 
and given it to a fine-looking woman, who had a deli- 
cate child of her own, to sell together, and given her 
little one to the other. Again, he would make a wo- 
num marry a man, let her like him or not, should a 
gcntlenuin couje along who wished to have a man and 
wife. Anything to make money. 

As the weather was getting warm, and the ladies 
leaving very fast, I determined, what I had not seen 
in past years, I would see now; so I went to the high- 
est circles, then to the lowest; to the free people, and 
to slave people ; and every-where it was proper for a 
woman to go. I could not but notice, in some 
of the wealthy families, where there were but three or 
four in a faniil}', and five or six servants, these were 
well treated; again, in other places, where there 



IN HIGH LIFE. 185 

were nine or ten in a fiimily, and but one or two 
servants to do the work for the whole, those poor crea- 
tures had to get up at four o'clock in the morning, 
and not see bed again, probably, till one or two the 
next morning. 

These poor creatures are worked to death, and, when 
worn out and good for nothing, all at once a charita- 
ble feeling rises up in the master's breast, and he gives 
them free papers, puts them on the cars, and sends 
them ofl" to Cincinnati. This I can testify to, as I 
have one in my house now, in her fifty second year, 
perfectly helpless, atiiicted with rheumatism, and not 
able to more than limp around. From her appear- 
ance, she has been a hard-working and faithful 
servant. Her master one day took a charitable no- 
tion, came home and asked her if she would not like 
to go to Cincinnati. She told him she would go any 
place to get her freedom. He started the poor old 
soul off, with fifteen dollars in her pocket, to a strange 
place, where she knew no one. Had she not fallen in 
with friends, she might have been sent to jail, or the 
pest-house, where there are several at this time from 
the South and other slave States, who have been very 
charitably dealt with, and given their freedom. This 
poor old creature was knocked about from post to \)\\- 
lar, till at length I stumbled over her, and she is with 
me now. Her master is a captain on one of the nK»st 
elegant steamers that float on the Southern waters. 

I sometimes think it strange how so many of these 
creatures fall into my hands; but 1 can tell you how 
one woman and child, from New Orleans, fell into my 
hands, and I was very glad to let her fall out. 

There was a gentleman, from New Orleans, at Sara- 



18G A IIAIR-DRESSER's EXrKRIENCE 

toii;a. From his appearance and conversation, and 
that of his hidy, I thought them New England people; 

his name was W . They begun a conversation 

with me on slavery, which is, with me, a very excit- 
ing topic, and 1 would much rather hold a conversa- 
tion on any other subject; but, being dragged into it, 
1 did not fail to express my opinion. He showed how 
well some slaves were treated, and I showed how 
badly others are treated. I told him there was one 
blasting thing to slavery — how a man good to his 
slaves may die, and the slaves fall into the hands of 
very cruel masters, and can not help themselves ; their 
situation is a great deal worse than those that have 
had bad masters, and fall into the hands of good ones, 
lie then said slaves could not take care of themselves. 
I replied, they could if they had a chance: as a good 
slave would make a good citizen, and a bad slave a 
bad one; but give them a chance. He said he had a 
woman he would gladly give her freedom, if she could 
do anything for herself to make a living. I told him 
if she was a respectable woman I would give her a 
trade. His wife then spoke up, and said the woman 
was whiter than herself, and was very smart. 1 told 
them to send her to me. 

Some eigiiteen months passed away, and I got a 
letter, saying they would send the girl and her child, 
though, in the first place, they had not said anything 
about a child. She came, and with her a child some 
three years old ; and no one would' think there was 
one drop of African blood in either of their veins. 
Tlie woman had evidently been badly raised, as she 
was very profane in her speech, and tiiey must have 
been glad to get rid of her on account of her temper. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 187 

She stayed with me a few weeks, and my husband 
would not allow me to have her about the house any 
longer. 

I took her child and put it in the Orphan Asylum, 
and got her a good situation in a family where she 
would be well taken care of; but her language and 
conversation were such they would not have her about 
the house. It was now easy to be seen why her for- 
mer owners wished to get rid of her — she was so 
white they could not sell her, and her language was so 
bad they could not keep her; so they determined to 
impose her on our so-called picayune State. 

These are the kind usually emancipated, either those 
who are too bad to keep, or too old to be made any 
longer useful. 

Now while running around, it was my privilege to 
comb a young Creole lady, who was married to a 
French gentleman, raised in Paris, but who owned 
several slaves in New Orleans. After she was mar- 
ried she went up on her mother's plantation with seve- 
ral of his servants ; after being there a little while, 
they sent for me to come up and make them a visit; 
not having much to do at that time, I went for a 
few days. 

On my going there, I was very well treated by every 
one, and they showed me everything to be seen, but 
tried to confine my attention to the cottages and scenes 
just around the house, and did not seem to wisli me to 
go out to see into the quarters. But as the family rose 
very late, 1 went out every morning to see ti)e slaves 
at breakfast in the quarters, and to my astonishment, 
1 did not see any of them have anything for the whole 
week but a pint cup of buttermilk and a slice of bread, 



188 A II AIR- dresser's experience 

those who could not take buttermilk, had a cup of 
coltee, inade of browned corn, sweetened with molas- 
ses. 1 never saw meat of an}^ kind given them while 
1 was there. 

One morning I w^as in the Orange grove, sitting 
(•lose l)v the piazza, the young groom was on the piazza 
reading a paper; he suddenly laid his paper down, 
and said to his wife, "Annette what can be the matter 
with Julee, she looks very bad, she was quite fat when 
1 brought her here, now she looks as if she was very 
sick." She said she did not know, but she would 
call her and ask. She did so, and Julee told her 
siie had been there some two months, and had not 
tasted meat but twice in that time, and you know 
master, said Julee, I had been accustomed to have 
meat three times a day. He laid down his paper, and 
commenced, in his broken language, to scold; when 
his wife said, "Pierre, my dear, do you not know the 
Creoles do not give their servants as much to eat, or 
the same kind of meat as the Americans do, as we 
think they work the better not to be over-fed." He 
replied, "Zounds, madam, how can a man or woman 
work and not eat?" She said there were, sometimes, 
years during which their servants had nothing but 
milk, unless they nn'ght catch some wild game fur 
themselves. He then said, to-morrow morning I shall 
send my servants home, which he did. I ran around 
a few days longer till they went into the city and 
took me home. I had been home but a day when 
there was a very wealthy Creole gave a soiree, and as 
I was favored with an invitation, I went just to see 
how the ati'air would be conducted. On entering I 
was met by the hostess, who was a tall, fine looking 



IN HIGH LIFE. 189 

woman, ^vho loolccd as though she might be white, 
bnt a little sunburnt. She was dressed in white silk, 
with a head-dress of crimson, a full set of coral. Her 
fatiier was a pure white Creole, her mother a colored 
Creole, a brown skinned woman ; she was di'essed in 
black silk, with a full set of white lawn. The hostess' 
son was a very handsome man. Did he take j^ai't in 
the soiree? No, he did not, nor did any colored man 
take any yavt in the jiroceedings, unless in the capacity 
of a servant. IJe kejjt his own room, or once or twice 
was seen moving about the house, but having nothing 
to do with the affairs of the house, as it is a strange 
fact among these mixed Creoles, that the boys are never 
taken notice of in public. About eleven o'clock the 
rooms were crowded. I never saw in any assembly 
north, east, or south, or even abroad, unless it might 
l)e among the nobility, a set of people more elegantly 
and tastefully dressed. At half past eleven, in walked 
a most beautiful brown skinned woman, elegantly 
dressed in pink brocade, and a full set of diamonds ; 
she was led in by the Spanish ambassador. Slie 
looked to me more like an African princess than a 
Louisiana creole. You might ask, was there no one 
there but Creoles ? Yes, there were people from all 
parts of the country, when it became known a creole 
soiree was to come off, as there was generally a great 
collection of Creole beauty there. The gentlemen from 
all parts sought for invitations. I myself, saw a cler- 
gyman from New York there, together with a hundred 
or a hundred and fifty others, and did not see one 
there without his white kid gloves, and white vest. 
It might puzzle my reader to know wdiat class of peo- 
ple these Creoles are. Are they marrying people or 



190 A iiaik-driosser's experience 

'not? They call it marriage, but I do not. These 
young girls are brought up as particularly as any 
children in the world ; they have the very best educa- 
tion that can be given tiiem, are taught music, danc- 
ing and every branch of education necessary to the ac- 
complishment of a lady. They are never permitted 
to walk out to church or school, or any other place, 
without a servant after them. When they are mar- 
riageable, they are courted by the gentlemen the same 
as any other ladies, till it comes to the ceremony, then 
tliere is a large party assembled, and the young girl is 
given away by her father or mother, or botii ; this is 
cixW^id j)lacayed I it is the same in their eyes as mar- 
riage, but no license is required. Sometimes they live 
together till they raise generations, then again, others 
are like some of the license marriages, they stay till 
they get tired, and then go, some one way, some an- 
other. 

There came to this soiree a gentleman who had been 
placayed fur thirty-five or forty years, and had been 
judge in different states. He has, during that time, 
stuck to his integrity, and lives very elegantly. You 
might go through his house and see everything in it 
more elegant than another, and could not tell who his 
wife was, or what she was, unless you might discover 
a little tinge in her complexion. 

One of the Creole ladies 1 met at the soiree, I after- 
ward found to be one of the most cruel women I had 
ever seen or heard tell of. 1 told her I did wish I 
had her up in our state a little while, when she would 
wish she never had owned a slave, or never seen one. 
1 got so outrageously angry at her proceedings, that 
I got a petition drawn up by an old citizen, and signed 



IN HIGH LIFE. 191 

by a goodly number of tlie most influential citizens, 
which I determined, myself, to present to Congress, 
to prevent the colored people from owning slaves un- 
less through some change in law. As there are so 
many changes going on now, the whites hhould also 
own each other ; then let the colored people have their 
slaves if they choose to, I have even known slaves 
to own slaves before now, and treat them very cruelly. 

I now started for Natchez, where I told you before 
I was to teach some ladies' maids hair-dressing during 
my stay there. I had souie papers, among tliem this 
petition, put away in a box in my trunk, with some 
pieces of jewelry, that I valued very highly. One day 
being hurried, I forgot my keys, and left them in my 
trunk, when the papers were taken out. I always ac- 
cused a governess of taking them as the servants 
could not read, and I know the ladies of the family 
were above anything of the kind. I was in the house 
for several weeks, and saw the slaves there were well 
treated, not only the house servants, but those in the 
quarters. 

On one occasion an overseer misused a slave, and 
Dr. J. turned him off without a moment's notice. 
This worthy gentleman even kept pastors to suit his 
slaves; if they did not like their pastors they were 
changed. On account of his kind treatment of them, 
they seemed delighted to work for him. When he 
wanted to speak to any of them he did not speak as if 
to dogs, but remembered they were human creatures, 
and that he would have to give account for the man- 
ner in which he treated them. He also had his modes 
of punishment — he had his own jail, and was his own 
judge. During my stay there, I went round a good 
16 



102 A iiair-dresser's experience 

deal to the neighboring plantations and looked around. 
The next plantation where I was, all was different, 
the slaves badly treated, half clothed, half fed, and 
misused in every way, and said to be great thieves. 
On one occasion I addressed one old woman, by saying 
Aunty why do you steal ? do you not know it is sinful 
to steal? Her reply to me was, I don't steal — does 
not the Scriptures say reap where you have sown, and 
I have worked here and got nothing for my work. 1 
take nothing but what I want to eat or drink, and 
hardly enough even of that. I left the old lady, very 
glad to get off without further question. I was glad 
to leave that plantation, for after seeing the kindness 
of Dr. J. to his people, the cruelty there was more 
than I could bear. 1 then got entrance into a gentle- 
man's plantation who was very peculiar. lie would 
neither let his slaves visit nor receive visits, nor would 
he ever receive strangers if he could help himself; lie 
was a very severe master. I will give you one instance 
of his severity in a free State, so you may judge what 
it may be at home. One season at Saratoga, he had 
with him a slave as a body servant; all at the 
the springs said he was a much finer looking man than 
his master. In the morning about eight o'clock, the 
newspapers arrive, and tiie news boys run around with 
them as soon as they can get them. This gentleman 
was sitting on the gallery, and sent his slave for a pa- 
per ; in the meantime, one of these little boys came along 
and the gentleman bought the paper himself; on the 
servant couiing in with the paper, his master cursed 
him for his tardiness, was very angry, and swearing at 
him, commanded him to go and bring him back his 



IN ITIGn LIFE. 193 

money. The poor slave not having a cent in his 
pocket, some gentleman in an upper gallery hearing 
the whole conversation, and feeling both indignant and 
sorry, went down and gave the man the mighty sum 
of ten cents, which he gave his master. The gentle- 
men then consulted together, and thought so brutal 
a master should not take this man out of a free State, 
so the next morning, he with plenty of money in his 
pocket, was safely under the banner of Great Britain, 
and this was not done by abolitionists, but by friends 
of the master himself. 1 visited many places and was 
well treated, and saw slaves apparently well treated 
too, but that does not say they are all well treated, for 
there is a plantation in lower Mississippi, kept by 
some two or three planters, so that the slaves who in 
any way disol)lige their master or mistress, could be 
sent to this ])lace to be punished. It must be an 
awful place, for the slaves in general, would prefer 
going to perdition itself, to being sent there. 

After my seeing all the plantations, and going round 
as much as I wanted to, I thought I would now stay 
in the city of Natchez, where they sent for me every 
day. 1 would drive out and drive in. My visit to 
the plantations taught me many things, and amongst 
the rest to manage horses. One of the servants 1 
taught hair-dressing to, in the city, belonged to Mrs. 
Colonel E.. an<I she must be a kind mistress, as her 
girl is now a comj^etcnt hair-dresser, and she brings her 
to New York every season. I saw her myself, a short 
time since in New York. I think Natchez a beauti- 
ful place, it reminds me of England more than any 
])lace I ever saw in my life. 



194 A haib-dresser's experience 

I visited many of the private residences at Natchez, 
and I must say the niore I saw of them, the better I 
liked them ; as indeed any one with the least taste for 
the beautiful, could not but admire those lovely spots. 
I will now leave Natchez and confine myself to my 
own State. 



CHAPTER VII. 

CINCINNATI. 

It is now some fifteen or sixteen years since I learned 
the art of hair-dressing. During raost of that time 
I was East and South, dressing hair, as the Cincinnati 
ladies were not French enough to employ a hair- 
dresser at that time ; but in these latter days some of 
our ladies go to France in the summer, and New Or- 
leans in the winter — so, by that means, they do not 
lose sight of the French fashions. 

About two years ago, two ladies, in Cincinnati, 
thought I should have work enough to keep me at 
home; so they each employed me a month to dress 
their hair. They being ladies of very high standing, 
many thought to follow their lead. They were Miss 
L and Mrs. S . From that time to the pres- 
ent, I have never known what it was to be three hours 
out of employment. I am to this day working tor 
those two ladies. Although several years have passed, 
I never knew how to thank them for their kindness to 
me. To them am I indebted for my present position. 

Hair-dressing is generally very trying ; but I have 
always had the good luck, with a few exceptions, to 
work for the higher classes. At another time I will 
tell you who and what they were. It has always been 
my privilege to comb the brides, 1)61168 and beautiful 
ladies, both residents and visitors, of Cincinnati. 

195 



li)G A IIAIK-DKESSICK S EXPERIENCE 

I have worked for several years from ei^-lit in the 
morning till six in the evening, and, on ball-nights, as 
late as eleven, and given satisfaction to all my ladies, 
with the exception of a few meddlesome persons, who 
were jealous because some one else looked better than 
they did; for I find in these days people are more 
troubled about their looks than they were when I com- 
menced hair-dressing. 

There are in Cincinnati, at this time, four distinct 
circles of fashionables; first, is the real old aristoc- 
racy; second, the monied aristocracy; third, the 
church aristocracy, and fourth, the school aristocracy. 
You may wish to know what I mean by the school 
aristocracy. I mean those girls whose parents send 
them to such or such a school because Miss So-and-So 
goes there; so that, by these means, they may have 
an entree into the higher circles. It is much easier to 
get into the higher circles now than when 1 first be- 
came a hair-dresser. All that is necessary now, is to 
go to the Bnrnet House, stay there awhile, visit from 
one room to another, till you find out which of the 
ladies visit such and such families out in town; then 
cultivate their acquaintance. 

There are two fashionable dress-makers in Cincin- 
nati at present, where almost all the fashionables can 
be met with. They go there more to display their 
elegance, and to see those who are a step or two higher 
than themselves, than to have their dresses made. I 
know a number of ladies who keep private dress- 
makers and plain seamstresses in their own houses; 
but once in awhile they take a dress to these dress- 
makers, so as to keep up their ac(p;aintance. 

There is a ladv in Cincinnati who makes herself no- 



IN TTIGIT LIFE. 197 

torious for visiting milliners, dress-makers, confection- 
ers, and, in fact, every place where there is anything 
to be bought or sold ; she is even at funerals, I will 
give here name as Mrs. Envy; because she is envious 
of every one from the leaders of fashion down to the 
tradesman. She is very accomplished, as there is 
scarcely anything slie can not do ; and she makes her- 
8(;lf generally useful. If there is a house to be fur- 
nished, slie is there; if, as the English say, there is a 
house warming, she is there. (I mean, by a house 
w^arming, a large party given on first occupying the 
house.) If they are young housekeepers, she is ready 
with her advice in all cases ; but if they are old ones, 
she will drop a hint or two; if they are not noticed, 
she will pass on. They are too polite to say no, as she 
belongs to the upper tens. I will now leave Mrs, 
Enyy, and speak of more agreeable associations. 

Since the time I mentioned as having settled down 
in Cincinnati, I have dressed one hundred and fifty 
brides; twenty-five of these were in Louisville, Ky., 
and some seven or eight in Covington and Newport, 
just across the river from Cincinnati. As near as I 
could learn, they are all doing well, save ten; six of 
the ten are dead — the other four are separated from 
their husbands. One of them left her husband, and 
was actually married to him again; though I did not 
have the honor of dressing her hair the second time. 
One of the deceased was a lovely character; she was, 
indeed, a most amiable person. If I went to comb 
her, and felt tired, it seemed to rest me to be with her; 
if I was hungry, in her presence hunger left me; was 
I angry or wurrietl, as I occasionally was with ladies, 
on my coming in to her all my annoyance vanished, 



198 A hair-dressek's experience 

and my good temper returned. I have often thought, 
while combing her, is it possible so amiable a person 
can live long in this world. Whenever and wherever 
I saw her, she was still the same — pleasant, agreeable 
and kind to every one around her. I have known her 
to be out in rain and storm, carrying food to the sick 
or poor, when other ladies would hardly venture forth, 
unless to a ball or party. She was the only daughter 
of a widow; she was not only a child, but a compan- 
ion. Poor Mrs. S ! she has never been forgotten 

by her family or friends. She was married in the 
middle season — for we had in Cincinnati, three distinct 
seasons for marrying in a certain set. The season 
before she was married there were several weddings 
among the old aristocracy ; this beloved one attended 
them all till her own season come. She must have 
been lovely, when Frederica Bremer glanced at her and 
pronounced her even more lovely than her own Swe- 
dish ladies ; which was a great deal for a foreigner to 
say, for the foreigners are not generally so charitable 
as our own American ladies. I always found her 
pleasant on going to her house; she was quite differ- 
ent from some others with whom, when they saw me, 
the first thing would be, " what is the news, did you 
not hear anything ?" till I began to see there was some- 
thing, and would set myself to find it out. Perhaps it 
might be something about a dear friend, when, of 
course, I would defend them manfully. They would 
then get alarmed and the first thing they would do, 
would be to go to this friend and say, 1 heard such and 
so ; when asked for the name of their informant, the 
answer was, " my hair-dresser ;" by that means there 



IN niGH LIFE. 199 

was a constant broil kept up. These are daily occur- 
rences in high life. 

I will now tell you how a lady got into a scrape 
trying to get out of one, I will name her Tulip. I 
worked for her three or four years ago, but having 
very many older patrons, I gave her to one of my pu- 
pils; the latter gave entire satisfaction and Tulip 
seemed perfectly satisfied with her, which in no way 
surprised me, for, although my pupil, I considered her 
equal to or better than myself. Tulip was always smil- 
ing and had something sweet to say. 

A few months passed, the summer season came 
and I prepared myself for Saratoga. I left also my 
Camelia in charge of my pupils — I call her Camelia 
on account of her beauty, gentleness and amiability. 
My pupil went one day to comb Tulip and proposed 
to her to get a twist for her hair, as she thought it 
would be a great improvement. Tulip said no fash- 
ionable people wore them : the hair-dresser curtesied 
and begged to be excused for saying that Miss Came- 
lia had one, though she had no need of it, but that it 
certainly would be an imjirovement to her. Tulip 
was perfectly delighted to have something to say of 
Camelia; the latter having many beaux, she thought 
to acquaint one of these admirers in a quiet way, tiiat 
( 'Umelia wore a twist, when she did not — she had one, 
but made no use of it, as Camelia never wore anything 
or said anything that she feared any person to know. 

Tulip went to an aunt of one of Camclia's admi- 
rers and told her, thinking she, like other ladies, might 
tell the gentleman ; but this aunt being a lady, in the 
true sense of the word, neither receiving gossip or 
talking herself, she replied to this, " well, my dear, 
17 



200 A hair-dresser's experience 

Camelia has a perfect right to dress as she pleases and 
make her toilet to suit herself, and so have all other 
ladies, without any person interfering with them." 

Nothing more was said till I came home and re- 
sumed my duties, when one day on combing this aunt, 
she said to me, " langy, in whose care did you leave 
Camelia when you were gone." I told her in my pu- 
pils. She said, " you should tell her not to tell one 
lady what she purchased for another or what any 
other lady wears." I told her I did. 

On my going home I asked my pupil what the lady 
meant by the remark, who at once said she had never 
told any one but Tulip, and she told me how it came 
she mentioned it. My pupil, on combing Tulip, at- 
tacked her on the subject, when she, getting alarmed, 
got the first lady she told it to, and both went to Ca- 
melia and told her. Camelia was too much of a lady 
to say anything to me, as I had a right to speak to 
my pupil, and did not say any harm. Tulip, finding 
things did not turn out as she wished them, sent round 
to everybody she could, even to my best friends, and 
tried to do me harm, for no cause on earth, for she 
herself was the transgressor. This went on for two 
years, and I did not know anything of it, I knew 1 had 
enemies, and I knew there must be something the 
matter, as some ladies treated me very differently from 
their usual way, but as I had not done anything to 
ofiend them, 1 did not care, nor did I inquire the 
reason. To these ladies who were my friends, she 
would not say anything very spiteful against me. 
There were some ladies who had recently joined the 
church, and they thought it the duty of all church 
members to espouse each other's cause and fight each 



IN HIGH LIFE. 201 

other's battles. They put their heads together and 
thought to put me down, not thinking I would ever 
hear it, and forgetting I had been here for a number 
of years, and had a position, and knew them when 
they had none. At length, a lady sent forme, whose 
position or word could not be doubted, and told me 
what was going on ; when, at once, I went to Tulip 
and asked her why she acted such a part, or what I 
had done to deserve it ; she said I had tried to make 
mischief with her ; I wanted to know how, and 1 then 
found out it was about the twist two years ago, and 
even then she was the transgressor and not myself. 
I told her then what I thought of her, how she acted 
the hypocrite on all occasions, being so sweet to my 
face, while she was secretly doing all in her power to 
injure me. I said to her I was sorry to see young 
church members act such a part as to try to tear a fellow 
woman's character to pieces without any cause, and I 
felt sorry for the minister who was to take charge of 
that church the next month ; and if he knew the kind 
of people some of his congregation were, he would 
tremble at the charge. I then told her if 1 said or did 
anytiiing that was wrong, she might send her father 
or brother after me. I don't know what she thought, 
but as 1 never heard from either father or brother, I 
suppose she thought over the matter, and remembered 
the time when she received the emblems of the blessed 
Redeemer, and took her vows. 

Often have I labored under such animadversions, 
and expect to till I die ; but one thing I am assured of, 
I can defy any individual, North, South, East or West, 
to say I ever did or said anything but was ladylike 
or courteous. Ladies are in the habit of saying a great 



202 A hair-dressek's experience 

many thini^s, not only to the hair-dressers, but to oth- 
ers, which would be a great deal better unsaid. When 
these things come to be talked about they forget say- 
ing them to any one but the hair- dresser. Even at 
parties, ladies will be envious of one another, and 
will talk about each other, and pick one another to 
pieces ; then they pack all they can on the hair-dress- 
er's shoulders. Truly, the hair-dresser has a good 
deal to contend with. 

I wnll now tell you how parties are conducted in 
France and England. Though I was not an invited 
guest, I had innumerable opportunities of observing 
how they were conducted. The whole eighteen 
months I spent in Paris 1 never heard of a 3'oung gen- 
tleman taking a young lady to a ball or party, they 
are chaperoned by mothers, aunts, governesses or 
some other female relative. 

On entering the house there is a little side room 
where the ladies hand their wrappings to a servant, 
who takes them in charge ; there are not two or three 
rooms thrown open as is the case here. The English 
and Parisienne ladies are expected to dress at home. 
On entering the room, after finding their way to the 
hostess and passing the compliments of the evening, 
tliey endeavor to make themselves agreeable to the 
company in general. They well know that a lady 
Wduld ask none but ladies and gentlemen to her house, 
and consequently the company, feeling perfectly at 
ease with each other, dance, laugh, talk and make 
themselves generally agreeable, and when sup* 
per is announced, they go in small parties at a time, 
and not as ourladies and gentlemen generally do, rush 
en masse. European ladies go to parties more lor the 



IN niOIT LIFE. 203 

sake of meetinpj friends and passing an agreeable eve- 
ning, than for the sake of what they eat ; but I have 
known our ladies refuse to eat either dinner or supper, 
60 that the}' might be able to eat the more at nigiit, 
or as many of them express it, that they might stuti 
themselves; and often when I have been so tired I 
could scarcely stand, and perhaps tasted nothing for 
twelve hours, and would complain of being hungry or 
tired, they would say to me, never mind, you will be 
there to-night, stuti' yourself. I would only smile, but 
often wished 1 could teach them a lesson of refinement. 
Yes, I have seen our ladies and gentlemen standing 
round the door of the supper room before supper was 
announced, and actually I have heard the waiter beg 
for room to carry in the jellies, ice creams, and so 
forth. When the door opened there was a general rush, 
as though there was a fire in some part of the house 
from which they were endeavoring to escape, and all 
w^ould be confusion to know who should seize the 
bouquets and anything else the table might be orna- 
mented with, and as for bonbons, the first table or 
those who were first at the table, got them all. I 
have known ladies take home as much as three or 
four dollars' worth at a time. I know, however, many 
who are exceptions to this rule, who go to parties, 
enjoy themselves very much and leave before the sup- 
per is announced. 

The refreshments that are provided in • this country 
for two hundred people, would be sufficient for a 
thousand in Europe, for the ladies do not touch any of 
the ornaments of the table, and as for taking away 
anything from the table, no lady would so far lower 
herself as to take the most triflino; thiii<»'; but I have 



204 A iiair-dressek's experience 

known ladies here, particularly in Cincinnati, take 
two or three sets of handkerchiefs, and not only carry 
away cakes and candy, but actually game. I have 
known them to do worse than even that. 

Some time ago, there was a party given by a lady 
in this city ; among the ladies who were very elegantly 
dressed that evening, was one in particular, who wore 
a very rich opera cloak, trimmed with ermine, a hood 
to match, also, an elegant handkerchief; these she 
put away, all rolled in a bundle. I observed a lady in 
the dressing room very busy examining the wrappings, 
but did not suppose she had any evil intentions. 
Early in the evening the lady and several others dis- 
appeared, taking with them others' wrappings, and 
were not charitable enough to send them back, think- 
ing the blame would be attached to the servants. 

Some time ago there was a large party given to some 
eastern ladies. The lady in whose house they were 
stopping, after having performed her own toilet, left on 
the table some articles of valuable jewelry. When the 
guests had dispersed, the jewelry, too, had disappeared. 
Such occurrences are very frequent of late years. 

The following circumstance occurred in one of our 
most fashionable jewelry establishments. Two ladies 
went into the store, and requested to be shown some 
diamond rings ; amongst others, they were shown a 
very valuable one, wliich a gentleman had been on 
the eve of purchasing the day before. Not being 
quite decided on making the purchase, they promised 
to call again. 

The person who attended them, put away the boxes 
without looking whether the ring was there or not ; 
during the course of the day, the gentleman, who had 



IN HIGH LIFE. 205 

takeu a particular fancy to the ring, the day before, 
called in to get it; on opening the box it was found to 
be empty. Knowing he had shown the ring to no one 
but these two ladies, the jeweler caused an advertise- 
ment to be inserted in the papers requesting the lady 
who bad been looking at the rings the day before, and 
had, by mistake, left one on her finger, to return it. 
The same day one of the ladies came to the jeweler's, 
acknowledged she had been there with her friend, and, 
since then, had seen the ring on her friend's finger, 
who told her her husband had purchased it for her. 

The jeweler immediately made arrangements to go 
with the lady to her friend's house. On their arrival 
at her house, they sent word that a lady and gentle- 
man were in the parlor, who wished to see her. She 
soon made her appearance, with the ring on her finger. 
The jeweler made known his errand, and she surren- 
dered the ring, ofiering the jeweler, at the same time, 
any compensation if he would hush the matter up, so 
that it might not reach her husband's ears. The jew- 
eler was so delighted at having regained possession 
of his property, that lie complied with her wishes, 
more especially as they were both the wives of wealthy 
merchants. He was more fortunate than the Misses 
B., who, at one of their great openings, lost a lace 
mantle, valued at two hundred dollars, which they 
never recovered. 

I could enumerate many instances of such things, 
committed by ladies in high life, whom I have known. 
One lady went to a store, and took away with her 
laces and ribbons of the value of thirty dollars, think- 
ing herself unobserved — ^but she had been noticed. 
Finding she did nut return to settle the account, the 



206 A hair-dresser's experience 

bill was made out and presented to her husband; at 
first she denied all knowledge of the matter, but on 
the clerk coming forward and declaring he had seen 
her take the things, she was very glad to acknowledge 
the debt, and get off with that. 

Among other scenes in high life, I will give you a 
lew from the Burnet House, where you will find all 
ranks and denominations, doctors, lawyers and mer- 
chants, and, if you please, not wholesale merchants 
either. 

After toiling through the city from eight until 
twelve, I started for the Burnet House, where I had 
seven or eight customers. Being a little behind time, 
I met a lady's maid who said: " langy, 1 would not 
for two month's M'ages you had not come just at this 
time. I have often told you that several of the ladies 
in the house did nut like you, and you always insisted 
1 was mistaken; come with me, the little room that 
leads to the parlor is open, and you will hear all they 
say." 

Not believing what she told me, as I had always 
found these ladies warm friends, I went with her to 
tlie little room, and having taken a seat near to the 
door opening into the parlor, found I could easily hear 
all they said. One of the ladies defended me; the 
otiiers said 1 was pei't and proud, and knew too much, 
that I put on too many airs, besides many other 
tilings. Mrs. S. who had defended me, after they 
had talked of me in this manner for some time, inter- 
rupted their conversation, saying: 

"Come, let us talk about something else, for I ex- 
pect her every moment. How did you like the spirit- 
ual rappers last night ?" Mrs. liked them very 



IN HIGH LIFE. 207 

well. "But," said she, "1 can not tell whether they 
are humbugs ur not; I think they do and say some 
things that are very strange: speaking of them, makes 
me think of some more of langy's impudence. Did 
you hear what a going over she gave these spiritual 
rappers the other day?'' 

Mrs. S. replied "1 did. Do you know the cause of 
her giving them such a lecture? My husband said 
she did right, and if he says it is right, it is so. These 
spiritual rappers got some ladies in their room, and 
frightening them, made them tell some little things 
they would not otherwise have told, and then they 
told these things again, langy heard it, and she gave 
them what they ought to have ; and the spiritual rap- 
pers getting afraid lest she would tell the ladies, un- 
dertook, in a sly manner, to tell falsehoods on her to 
the proprietor. Come, come, I hear her footsteps — for 
1 can tell when she conies — at the top of the stairs." 
. I then opened the door; Mrs. S. was standing; the 
two other ladies turning toward me, said, ''Wliy, 
langy, how are you?" 1 replied, "I am well, I thank 

you." Mrs. said, "You don't look well, you 

seem nervous, perhaps you walked too fast, or come 
too quickly u|) the stairs." 1 replied, "perhaps 1 
have; I might have felt better had 1 not come up so 
last." 

After seating Mrs. S. before the glass, I began to 
comb her, occasionally taking a glance at the two 
other ladies, to watch their manner and countenances, 
seeing them so perfectly confused. Mrs. S. asked, 
" Well, langy, how does the world use you." 

"As well, madam, as I wish, I have enemies as well 
as friends, but for my juirt, 1 like enemies; I feel 



208 A tiair-dresser's experience 

sometimes like a lily in the midst of many poisonous 
weeds. If it was not the hand of Providence causing 
the wind to blow another way, it would choke the 
lily, and it would wither and die, so does the hand of 
Providence protect me as I move on the face of this 
unfriendly earth ; my enemies would choke me if they 
could, if not with their hands, they would with their 
feet." I saw the two ladies blush, and touch each 
other on the foot. 

My work was now finished, and bidding them good 
morning, I left the room. 1 then went into an adjoin- 
ing room where was a lady who was raised in the 
State of New York. She began to question me, and 
ask me the news. Seeing from her manner that she 
had something to tell, I began to try and find out 
what it was. After a very little trouble I succeeded. 
She told me there was a man and woman in the next 
room who were not married. I told her it would be 
a poor hotel if everybody was married in it, and 
wanted to know the reason she thought so. She said 
that man and wife were more formal and dignified. 
Just then her husband knocked at the door, when she 
twisted and turned till she got him to leave the room ; 
but I think it was more to ask me questions than on 
account of modesty. After he had gone she asked me 
to go with her to the spiritual rappers ; I thanked her. 
and said 1 worked for the girls and could go in when 1 
pleased. I made up my mind to be there at four o'clock 
andsee what her object was in having me there. At the 
appointed time I went with her to see the rappers, and 
found her object was to ask many absurd questions, 
which were all answered favorably. By tiiis time 
many of our most fashionable ladies came in; when 



IN HIGH LIFE. 209 

they saw me they said, " For mercy's sake, langy, don't 
tell you saw lis here." I assured them I would not 
tell on them if they did not tell on themselves. 

After telling many unheard-of tales the spirit prom- 
ised to play the guitar, and every one was requested 
to look right on the center of the table. I pretended 
to look on the table, but glancing at the two girls and 
the old woman, 1 saw one of the girls move her body 
from the table and touch the guitar with her foot. 
The mother seeing me eyeing her so closely, said: 
" Look on the table, langy," which I did, but still 
kept my eyes on them so closely they could not play 
the guitar. Finally, the spirit rapped and said it 
would not play the guitar that day, but it would to- 
morrow. I said the spirit did not like me, nor I the 
spirit, and so I would leave the room : one of the girls 
coming behind me asked me to come back in a few 
minutes. 

After I left the spirit played, to the satisfaction of 
the ladies, and then commenced to rap on the door. I 
got some young misses and we stood at the door, and 
when the spirit rapped on the inside of the door we 
rapped on the outside and then ran away, which so 
frigiitened one of the girls she could not raise the 
spirit again. 

That evening, after the ladies had left, I went in 
again and the old woman said : " langy, the spirit has 
told us that you have some hard feelings against us, 
and that we must make friends, and I know of no 
other way than that we should go this evening to your 
house, and rap for you and your friends ; if convenient 
we will come at nine o'clock." 

I went home to prepare supper for them, and invited 



210 A nAIE-DRESSER's EXPERIENCE 

many of my friends to be there. Promptly at eight 
o'clock they came, and with them two of our most 
prominent citizens. After my friends had asked many 
questions, some getting a favorable answer, some an 
unfavorable one, the mother and one of the gentlemen 
insisted on my asking a question. I told them I could 
raise a greater spirit than any of theirs, and stepi)ing 
to the table I placed on it a bottle of old bourbon, say- 
ing, this is the only spirit that can be raised on earth. 
The old lady at first was very indignant, but she knew 
it was not worth while to be indignant with me and 
was soon in a good humor. I gave them their sup- 
per, and the two girls on leaving, said : "langy, don't 
you say anything of those two gentlemen being here." 
I said, certainly not, if there was disgrace I M^as the 
disgraced one for having them here. 

On going to the hotel the next day, I found almost 
every one knew they had been to my house, but could 
not tell by whom they were accompanied. One of the 
ladies of the house tried very hard to pump it out of 
of me, but she could not ; while she was attempting 
to pump me, some gentlemen came in and said that 
Kossuth had arrived and would be at the hotel in a 
short time. 

1 spent a good deal of my time in the hotel during 
Kossuth's stay, for it was very amusing to me to see 
the ladies' maneuvers — both those in the hotel and the 
visitors — it was laughable to see the ladies call on Mrs. 
Kossuth ; though she could not speak a word of 
English she would bow her head and utter something 
between a groan and a grunt. 

At one time Kossuth's room and the hall were full 
of people to see him, which put me in mind of the St. 



IN Ilion LIFE. 21 i 

Charles wlieu Gen. Taylor was there, after his return 
from Mexico. They would all rush to him, and if 
they cculd not all speak to him, they would touch his 
coat, and go away perfectly satisfied ; some would even 
talk to his horse, as if he could understand every word 
they Avould say. So it was with this crowd, if they 
could but look at Kossuth that was quite sufficient. 

They held a great mass meeting — all orders and 
societies made up money and presented it to Kossuth. 
There was one lady, a school teacher, who failed to 
make her speech while presenting the purse ; but 
Kossuth did not care for the speech, all he cared for 
was the money. After Kossuth had spoken, and the 
presentation of the money, interrupted by many cheers, 
Mrs. Kossuth was called on for a speech; she came 
forth, having her handkerchief over her head, and 
smiled; every time money was presented to her she 
smiled more. I, in the midst of a crowd, said: " Let 
me look at the humbug," a gentleman at my side said, 
I am pretty much of your opinion. 

Kossuth, getting no other way to leave, after the 
money was presented and the speechifying finished, 
escaped through the kitchen and pantry up stairs — 
laughing in his sleeve at the game he was playing. 
Aiter he was in his room, and neither ladies nor gen- 
tlemen had followed him, I went to my work; and 
while combing a lady, she said, "I owe you five dol- 
lars to-day." I told her I would be hai)py to receive 
them. She said if siie was in my place she would jirc- 
sent them to Kossuth. I told her that Kossuth had 
already taken too much from our State, that I was in 
a hurry, and would explain my meaning the next day. 

This lady thought me very ignorant. Next day she 



212 A haie-dresser's experience 

invited some ladies into her room, as they expected to 
have some fun with langy ; but it did not turn out 
quite as they expected. While combing the lady she 
commenced to ridicule me, by asking me if I was go- 
ing to give Kossuth some money. I told her " I was 
not; that some of our ladies were too apt to take up 
with humbugs, and that it was high time they should 
stop. You, and every lady in the hotel, know that I 
think and maintain that Kossuth is a humbug ; and 
there is also another humbug in the house, and you 
will all find that out soon." They all went to work 
then to guess the person, and finally asked who I had 
reference to. 

1 said to them, "You shall hear at some future time; 
but let me answer your question why I will not give 
Kossuth my earnings. We have millions of slaves to 
look to in our country, which is a curse to it; and be- 
fore we go abroad to pluck the mote out of our breth- 
ren's eye, let us pick the beam out of our own eye. 
Is the yoke of the Hungarians heavier than that our 
slaves bear ? The Russians have not the power to 
cut, slash, and destroy the characters of the poor un- 
fortunates. Moreover, I don't believe Kossuth is what 
he represents himself to be." She said, " langy, don't 
talk so much nonsense." 

"It is not nonsense, madam," I replied; "I have 
seen so much of human nature in my humble position 
that I can, by looking at a man or woman, tell what 
they are. We will talk no more about Kossuth ; but 
I think you will all yet find him out." She then said : 

"What do you think of that lady who was here 
some time ago — the one that had so many diamonds, 
and the ladies chaperoned so V "I suppose you know 



IN HIGH LIFE. 213 

there are several ladies who do nothing but run after 
persons who dress elegantly, or know some person in 
tlie city who has a high position, and after running 
round picking up diamonds, get picked up themselves. 
Tiiat great lady married a poor man, and left him to 
wait on an old rich man. Her first husband having 
died, she married the old man on his sick bed, and he 
left all his money to her on condition that she would 
let her children take his name. The ladies picked her 
up and ran away with her; but finding the load too 
heavy, they fainted on the way, and dropped her. 
When she visits the city now, she stops at the Spencer 
House, for she has been found out at the Burnet 
House." 

During the stay of Kossuth at the Burnet House, he 
made many speeches, one of which was in the draw- 
ing-room. There were a number of people assembled 
to hear all his speeches ; but it seemed as if there was 
even more of a crowd than usual to hear this one. He 
spoke, as usual, on the oppression of the Hungarians, 
and at the close of every sentence there was a cheer. 
The gallery outside was crowded, the stairways were 
crowded, and those who could not get in were trying 
to look over the heads of otiiers Ladies were stand- 
ing on chairs here and there t irough the drawing- 
room, and some ladies of notoriey in our city actually 
stood upon a thousand-dollar piano. 

At this very time, when there was so much sympa- 
thy excited for the oppressed Hungarians, there was, 
in the very midst of our city, a man being tried for 
running away from cruel bondage and oppression, and 
endeavoring to escape to the land of liberty. He was 
caught, tried, and sent back to his cruel bondage — 



214 A haik-dresskr"'s experience 

there to suffer unheard-of tortures, too great to admit 
of their coming before the public view. 

I must confess it was to me more of a disgusting 
than amusing sight, to see children, not more than 
one year old, led up by their parents, young boys, 
ladies and gentlemen, all going up to Kossuth, with 
from one to fifty dollars each to present to him as a 
token of their good will, and to show their sympathy 
with his oppressed country — while Kossuth, as I said 
before, did not seem to mind the speeches they made, 
so that he got the money from them. 

There was stopping at the Burnet House a lady of 
great wealth; unlike most ladies, she did not dress 
and dash about, but, like all good mothers, took care 
of her children. She was in the hotel some four 
weeks, and none of the ladies looked at her, or seemed 
to notice her at all. 

There was a meeting of the ladies every week — they 
met in the different ladies' rooms, to make clothes for 
orphans and poor children — and on these occasions 
they would have a regular frolic ; and the ladies who 
came to stay the season, or any length of time, would 
by that means get acquainted with each other. 

One day, after the meeting was over, I went to comb 
one of my ladies; another lady was in the room while 
I was at my work. I asked how it happened there 
was a lady in the house extremely wealthy, of high 
standing and good family, to whom they paid not tlie 
slightest attention. "Why," said one of the ladies, 
"1 did not know there was any such person in the 
house." I then mentioned two or three of the families 
of high standing that slie visited in the city. 

The two ladies were considerably astonished, and, 



IN niGn LIFE. 215 

looking at each other, said: "What shall we do? 
How shall we manage it?" When they went down to 
dinner, they both bowed and smiled, which was quite 
unexpected to the lady. After dinner they went into 
the parlor, where all the ladies w^ere congregated, and 
told them there had been a lady in the house for some 
time who was very rich, and who visited the first fam- 
ilies in the city, and that they must all call on her im- 
mediately. There was one lady present whom 1 had, 
some weeks before, induced to call on her, as I was at 
that time combing them both. She seemed amused 
at the distress of the others. They all called the 
next day, and continued calling ; and at all their so- 
cial meetings her company was particularly solicited. 

Not long after Kossuth left, an English lady arrived 
at the house. She was a great favorite, not only at 
the hotel, for she brought recommendations which se- 
cured her access to the first families of the city. By 
some it was doubted whether they were authentic, yet 
there was a great deal of pains taken in introducing 
her round until she was found out. 

Truly, in her capacity, she was one of the shrewdest 
and smartest women that ever came to this city. She 
could not only fascinate women and children, but the 
most intelligent and the most inferior men. She so 
fascinated a gentleman boarding in the house, that she 
was actually engaged to him, and, as he was a man of 
high standing, through his influence she was received 
into many families that she could not have visited 
otherwise, notwithstanding the recommendations she 
brouglit with her. After being so pampered, she got 
beyond her position, like many others I know and 
have known, who bring false recommendations. 
18 



216 A hairdresser's experience 

The first time I saw her, I was combing a lady, and 
she liappened in the room. Her conversation was of 
nothing but lords, dukes, counts and earls. This lady 
was charmed and fascinated, listening to her as if all 
slie said was true as gospel, or something that would 
nourish soul and body. She arose, and passing by, 
looked at me as if 1 was a little insect in her path. 
After she had gone out, the lady said to me, "langy, 
ain't she lovely ?" 

"Lovely!" said I; "No, madam, I don't think she 
is; and allow me to tell you, she is not what she rep- 
resents herself. I have been in England too long not 
to know those who have mingled with the nobility. I 
have been child's nurse in England, and had an op- 
portunity of seeing and learning a great deal about 
the nobility; and I know enough of them to know 
one in any part of the world I may meet them ; I can 
even tell a servant that has been in their employ; and 
if this lady, in six months from now, holds the same 
])Osition she now does, I will give you five years' hair- 
dressing, and if not, I shall expect a valuable present 
from you." 

In a few days the soiree came off. At first the 
English lady did not like me; but hearing so many 
ladies, whom she tried to be intimate with, speak in 
my behalf, nobody could comb her but me. While 
combing her one day, site showed me some pictures. 
On the first glance I saw that she had got them out of 
the l>ook of Queens. One of these pictures she told 
me was her sister, and another her aunt; while, a day 
or two befure, I had heard her tell some ladies tliat 
they were titled ladies, with whom she was very 
intimate. 



IN HIGH LIFE. 217 

When she showed them to me I smiled, as though 
1 thought all she was saying was really true. So, af- 
ter I had dressed her, and was starting out, she asked 
me to take a glass of wine. I told her I did not drink 
wine ; and seeing two bottles on the mantlepiece, la- 
beled " poison," I told her I did not like to take poi- 
son. She said she only put that there to keep the 
servants out. She went to the ball in full dress, and 
was the lioness of the evening. 

A short time passed, when she and her lover had a 
quarrel, which was kept up for some time ; several of 
the ladies tried to have it settled, and it was fortunate 
for him they did not succeed. She got in her pos- 
session the daguerreotype of an orator, which all at 
once turned up missing; either the orator had taken 
it away, or got some of the maids to do it for him; 
however, it was gone. She asked me to go to the 
gallery where it was taken, and have one taken from 
a picture that was there, as 1 was acquainted in the 
gallery, and give it to her. 1 refused, as I had no use 
for the gentleman's picture — she said no more, al- 
though she seemed displeased at my refusal. 

Soon after this she was discharged from the family 
by whom she had been employed as governess. A 
gentleman and lady were boarding in the house with 
whom she became very intimate, rather more so with 
tiie gentleman than the lady. She staid there a great 
while as the companion of the lady. There was a 
lady going to Europe for two or three years, and the 
governess persuaded them to rent her house and go 
to housekeeping. They did as she requested, and she 
went with them. She dressed as the lady's twin sis- 
ter instead of a governess. 



218 A iiair-iiresser's eperience 

It was not long before she caused the wife a great 
deal of uniiappiness, and the wife's mother also said 
she did not like such familiarity, consequently they 
broke up housekeeping and the mother and daughter 
went to New York. 

The governess, having left Cincinnati, went to a 
Southern city, and stopped at one of the fashionable 
hotels there, where the lady's husband and a partner 
had business to transact. 

She undertook to cut her cards, and cut them well 
for awhile, acting the great lady, and reigning and 
domineeritig over everybody that was there, till at 
length one night one of the gentlemen got tight, and 
going to her room she would not let him in, when he 
deliberately broke open the door. This aroused the 
dignity of the proprietor, and the next day she was 
put out, A lady not long since, told me she had seen 
a letter from her saying she was in want of means, and 
was then seated by her cradle. 

After these things happened, I went to the lady 
with whom I had the conversation, and asked her if 
she wanted me to give her the five years hair-dressing. 
She said no, but she would pay me anything for the 
rude manner in which she had spoken to me ; " But I 
should like to know, langy, who the other humbug is 
you spoke about ?" I said I would not tell her just 
then, for there was a set of ladies who could be taken 
in easily by diamonds and titles, and when these hum 
bugs come if they did not find them out they would 
blame me, and if they did find them out they would 
know I was right, so I would not speak, but let tliem 
get bit to their lieart's content. After they came, I 
might speak, but there were several ladies in the house 



IN HIGH LIFE. 219 

knew these circumstances as well as I did, and had 
determined not to say anything till they would see 
how long thoy would run. 

There now came a countess to the city. I will 
tell you how I came to know her, but not the particu- 
lars just yet. I saw her in Washington City, when 
she first came from Europe, while I was there with 
Minnie ; I did not see her again for several years, till 
I met her in Cincinnati, when she came direct to my 
house. I do not know how she found my number or 
house, but she did find them out, and left a note for 
me to go to the Spencer House and comb her. 

1 did not then know who she was, nor did I wish to 
go so far to comb anyhow, and 1 did not go. Then 
three messages came after me to go and comb the great 
countess. It seemed that the proprietor and all in 
the house were ready to run at her command, on ac- 
count of her being such a great lady. 

On my way going down I stopped in the store of 
one of our most fashionable milliners, who showed me 
a bonnet she was making for the great countess at the 
Spencer House, and told me of the very expensive 
lace she had ordered for it. I told her I was on my 
way to comb the same lady as she had sent for me 
ever so often. 

On my arrival at the Spencer House, being shown 
to her room, I at once recognized her as the lady I 
seen in Washington City. It was with great difficulty 
I suppressed my surprise. When I saw her in Wash- 
ington City she was accompanied by her husband, 
who had recently returned from Europe. She received 
a great deal of attention in Washington on her hus- 
band's account. She went on home every once and 



220 A iiair-dkksskk's experience 

awhile, and I would hear of her conduct but did notsee 
her ladyship again until I met her at the Spencer 
House. 

When I found who she was I told her I was in a 
great hurry and had to go. She told ine she wanted 
a maid, and wished rae to send one to her ; she did 
not want her to stop in the hotel during the night but 
merely to attend on her during the day. I told her 
she would not get any nice person to goto her at eight 
in the morning and stop as long at night as she might 
require her. Her reply was, if she Mas in Kentucky 
she would make her slaves do so for her. I told her 
there was no making in this country. She did not 
know 1 recognized her at all, and I was anxious to let 
her know I did recognize her. I said to her, " Madam, 
did you not leave France at such a time and on such a 
steamer ?" She gave me a very tierce look and attempted 
to deny it. I said, " Excuse me, madam, Ithoughtyou 
were the lady ; she was a great countess." She bright- 
ened up at that and said : " Yes, it was I, I am a cOunt- 
ess." I promised to go to comb for her but I did not. 
They staid there a little while and then she and the 
count left and went to Kentucky. 

In a short time they returned and put up at the 
Burnet House, he in the meantime, had changed his 
title from count to colonel ; so they put up at the 
Burnet House as countess and cousin. 

I met her one day on the stairs, she looked perfect 
daggers at me. On coming to the Burnet House she 
inquired who was their hair-dresser ? They said, 
langy ; she wished me to be sent to her room. Seve- 
ral of the ladies told me, but 1 would not go, as I had 
no desire to comb the countess, and would pretend 1 



IN HIGH LIFE. 221 

was engaged, when she at length applied to another 
hair-dresser who was in the house, and she had the 
glory and honor of combing a countess. 

The ladies were perfectly infatuated with the count- 
ess, and in love with the colonel. There were one or 
two ladies there who knew the countess and her cir- 
cumstances, and of a morning on my going to comb 
them I could scarcely get through my work for 
laughing. 

This colonel worked well in his own way ; he had 
letters to some of our fine families, and they went 
round with him and innocently imposed him on some 
of our first families, where the colonel was asked to a 
musical soiree, together with his cousin the countess, 
and to many other little entertainments, on account 
of his being so great a colonel and his standing so near 
the emperor at the christening of his son. He had 
promised many ladies if they would visit France he 
would present them to the emperor. 

There was a lady in the hotel who had seen this 
countess in France, where she had called on her, for 
if the countess ever heard of an American being in 
Paris, she always called on them, presuming on her 
husband's name; and of course, persons in foreign 
lands will speak to people and treat them with respect 
they would not look for at home. This lady treated 
tlie countess with great respect and introduced her and 
also the colonel, to all the ladies at the hotel. 

Every two or three evenings the colonel was sport- 
ing a new suit of regimentals. He could have played 
a good card with the set of ladies he was among, 
had the countess not beed so well known amongst the 
class he desired so much to play on ; many of them 



222 A hatr-dkesser's experience 

knowing her former husband's friends feared her like 
a tigress. She threatened several times to slap their 
faces, till they were actually afraid to meet her on 
the streets. If they saw her coming, they would 
dart down another street, and they would not visit 
the hotel while she was there, even to see their 
best friends. The sisters of her former husband 
were afraid to walk on the street, while she was in 
the city. 

This went on for several weeks, till at length the col- 
onel was taken sick, when the ladies were running, one 
with a basin of water to wash his face, another with 
a bottle of cologne to cool his brow, some one thing, 
and some another; one with a little tea-pot of tea,, 
made by her own hands, and of course the colonel 
could not refuse to take that. Tlie countess was very 
kind to him, but getting tired of so many ladies wait- 
ing on him, she had him removed to her own room, 
This opened the eyes of the ladies, and they now saw 
what was going on. 

In the meantime, some one must have sent a dis- 
patch to lier second husband, telling him of these 
things, for he very unexpectedly arrived, and took her 
away with him. The colonel, I heard, went to a 
lady's where he had a severe attack of varioloid. 
Shortly after, he left and went to New York, where in 
in a short time, he was joined by the countess. 

There was in the hotel a very rich lady, that the 
colonel, while there, tried to court with the assistance 
of the countess. This lady was a widow, and had 
nearly half a million of dollars. The countess went 
to work to get some of her money, and for that pur- 
pose got up a raffle to impose some of her old jew- 



IN HIGH LIFE, 223 

elry on this rich lady, and others in the house. She 
said it was for charity, as there were numerous poor, 
destitute families in her neighborhood, whom she 
wished to relieve. She got some twenty dollars out of 
this widow, and some two or three each, from the 
other ladies and gentlemen. This occurrence took 
place before the colonel's illness. The following sum- 
mer this widow met the colonel in New York, and 
received a great deal of attention from him, she intro- 
ducing him to a great many of her friends as a great 
French colonel, and very wealthy. 1 was at Saratoga 
that season. There was a lady came there from New 
York, and who said to me: 

" Oh ! langy, I am going on to France this winter 
with a friend of mine, who is going to be married to 
a French colonel who stood beside the emperor at 
the christening of his son. He is going to present us 
to the emperor and empress, and give us an introduc- 
tion at the palace." I said, "Oh, very likely, all red 
breeches are not royal ; so I stood up with the queen 
of England, at the christening of the Prince of Wales, 
but it was outside the palace, leaning against the walls, 
to hear the beautiful music inside." 

This colonel, at last, became a great bore to the 
widow, so much so that she became disgusted, and re- 
turned to Cincinnati. After a little while she received 
a letter from the colonel, asking her for a loan of a 
thousand dollars. She wrote him she would not send 
it. He wrote again, demanding it, and threatening 
in case of a refusal, he would try to make it appear 
she was engaged to liim. She consulted an eminent 
lawyer, and finding he could not do anj'thing, wrote 
him a decided refusal, positively declaring she would 
19 



224 A hair-dresser's experience 

hear no more from him. So he found, though he 
professed to be such a royal Frenchman, he could 
neither coax, persuade nor compel the money out of 
our Americau ladies' hands. 

One winter morning 1 noticed every countenance 
and dress I met on my walk — lirst was a man with 
his black beard whitening with the frost, muttering to 
himself; he looked as though he or some of his 
friends had been unfortunate. Then came another 
with such a smile on his face, looking as pleasant as 
thouiih he had some hot buckwheat cakes and nice 
rolls for breakfast, and had been spoken kindly to 
by both wife and children ; next I met two spriglitly 
young men, well known, who had at least taken 
a few hours to make their toilet, when one slipped 
down, and the other leaned against the house to laugh. 
Going on a little further, I met a gentleman coming 
along in such deep thought he ran against a lady 
and looked so surprised he did not know whether 
to say, excuse me madam, or what did you do that for, 
madam. 

After going my rounds that morning, I had to comb 
for a party. I went to the house of the gentleman 
who looked so sad, and told his wife I had met her 
lord that morning, and he looked as if his coffee was 
muddy, his bread had been burnt, or his cakes not 
very high lor breakfast that morning. "You are 
right, langy," she said, "both were bad, and he left 
in a very bad humor." 

I proceeded with my work all gay and cheerful, 
every one anticipating a good time. About nine 
o'clock, or half past, 1 had got through with a lady 
at the Jjurnet House, and i then went back to the 



IN HIGH LIFE. 225 

bouse where the party was, as they had asked me to 
come and take a peep at the ladies, and see how 
they looked. 

As I walked along there were several persons behind 
me hallooing and hooping, and I could hear them 
say, "let us frighten her to death," but I did not feel 
at all alarmed, although many persons had been 
garroted, for 1 generally had in my basket a good 
protector. 

I M-ent on to the house, took a peep at the ladies, 
who all looked beautiful, and seemed to enjoy them- 
selves so much, that 1 staid rather later than I inten- 
ded. On my going home, there were two men stand- 
ing on the corner of Fourth and Sycamore — one went 
back, and the other walked a little distance behind 
me, until we got to near Race street, when he stopped 
before me, and he did not speak, but walked close to 
me. Stepping back, 1 told him if he took another step 
he would fall at my feet. He said he was not follow- 
ing me, he was going for a doctor ; and so saying he 
went up a gentleman's steps and pretended to ring 
the bell. When I got round the corner, 1 took a peep 
at him to see whether he would go in or not: he stood 
at the door till he thought I was out of sight, and then 
ran away as fast as he could. I am sure if he had 
had wings he could not have gone any taster. Tiiis 
shows that any man who will attack a woman on the 
street is an arrant coward, and a woman can frighten 
him to death. I was very glad to get home, and then 
made up my mind I would not go to parties any more, 
but settle down. 

The next morning I started out with a full determi- 
nation to go to no })arties and not be out later than I 



226 A hair-deesser's experience 

possibly could help ; and, moreover, if I went to any 
person's house and they were talking about parties, I 
would not say a word ; for the morning after parties 
all the conversation was of how this one looked, or 
how that one was dressed ; it appeared as if they could 
think of nothing else. All these things would annoy 
me and take my mind ofl' what I had determined on 
doing — as I had a headache I thought I would go home 
and keep quiet for awhile, 

I did not go my rounds that morning, as I thought 
I was sick. Just as I was coming down Fourth street 
there were two little girls on the steps of a daguerreian 
gallery. As I passed by they said: "See here." 
Knowing them to be beggar girls, 1 turned with the 
full determination of assisting them. They then 
asked me, "how far I would have been if they had not 
called me." Forgetting my good resolutions, I got 
perfectly furious, and getting at them, though they 
hallooed, " it was not me," I gave them each a good 
whipping. 

Now that my resolution had been broken, I went 
home so angry that I did not go out that day, although 
I had several calls, but I would not go to any, simply 
because I was so provoked at breaking my resolution. 
When I made such resolutions some little thing would 
always occur and make me break them and I thought 
I would not uud^e any more. 

I went out next morning, leaving my long face and 
thinking it was not worth while to try to have a heavy 
heart when I had a light one, so I was a full hour 
going from Elm to Sycamore, stopping and chatting 
with one school girl and then another, passing along 
and noticing every queer thing that I saw. Going 



IN HIGH LIFE. 237 

along the street I saw ayonnggirl in Bloomer costume, 
and said to her, "My dear child, go and pull off those 
breeches and put a piece on your dress to let it down, 
and don't be disgracing all woman kind." The girl, 
from her looks, made me understand she did not know 
whether to be frightened or indignant. 

I proceeded on to my work. I first went to a lady 
in the east end, whom I have been combing for the last 
seven years ; the task I have to perform there is a 
great deal more of pleasure than labor. On entering 
that morning I found the lady and gentleman at the 
breakfast table. The cat was at a little distance look- 
ing up in the lady's face, and the dog at his master's 
side looking up at him. I thought this was certainly 
the coziest dining room I visited daring the winter. 
From the appearance of the table you might think 
there were visitors expected, but not so, as this was a 
continual thing ; and if a friend happened in, they 
would not have to run after plate, knife and fork. As 
I before said, I have combed tliis lady for seven years 
and I have never seen either her or her husband in a 
bad humor. I finished my work here and then went 
to throe other places and found all cheerful but the 
fourth place I went to. I was a few minutes too late 
and got a good scolding. I did not say anything, but 
made up my mind I would not go there again, but I 
did return again and was treated a little better, but 
the old sound was in my ears, "My money, — my 
position, — no one likes me — I have got more money 
than such and such a one has, and I don't ask them 
any odds, and I don't care whether they like nii" or 
not — you seem to be very independent here lately, 
you don't care whether you comb a body or not." 



228 A hair-dkesser's experience 

"Not so, madam, 1 said ; I am not so independent. 
I comb some ladies for mone}' and they employ me for 
ray work, and I don't care a snap for them ; but 
there are some ladies 1 would comb as well for pleasure 
as money, and some 1 love dearly." "I know you 
don't love me, you only comb me for my money." 
"I did not say that, madam, for to tell you the truth, I 
love your children dearly." 1 left the house, wonder- 
ing if 1 had said anything wrong or not. That night 
there was a small party in my aristocratic circle ; 
when I ^ot home 1 found among my orders there were 
several for another circle. I was then in a hobble ; 
1 did not know what to do, and while meditating, the 
lady I combed in the morning sent for me ; then I 
was in double trouble, but determined to fill the fii-st 
orders that were at liome. There were some of my 
customers I did not go to ; 1 knew they would all ex- 
cuse me but this lady, and I thought she would not 
require me, as I had combed her in the morning, and 
there were others 1 had not combed at all. 

I went and combed the ladies, — a set I never combed 
before — they were not only pretty but graceful and 
intelligent. I combed that night ten beautiful girls, 
every time I drew the comb through their hair 1 would 
wish they were in our first circles. 

While going home — it was a very dark night — I 
was walking verj^ last, thinking of these beautiful 
girls and wishing I had the power to place them in the 
higher circles, when about the middle of the square, 
my foot struck against something ; on looking down 
I saw it was a man laying in the street, either dead 
or drunk. I pushed him and tried to rouse hini, but 
he did not move, he was dead, but dead drunk. I 



IN HIGH LIFE. 229 

was so excited I thought he was really dead. There 
were some gentlemen coming toward me — I got be- 
hind a high step to see what they would do — they 
passed by and never noticed him. I waited and saw 
two gentlemen come along ; they noticed him, and 
seeing me looking at him, one of them said : " 1 be- 
lieve he is dead." They felt his pulse, "no, says the 
other, he is not dead, come along, he is only drunk." 
By this time several had come up ; when I saw the 
men notice him I started to go, but hearing one of 
them say, " Oh, let him be, he is only a drunken fel- 
low," I stepped up and said, "Gentlemen, if he is 
drunk he is a man ; let him be taken to the station 
house and cared ft)r, and be punished when he is 
sober." One of the gentlemen remarked that I was 
riaht, and called a watchman to lake him to the sta- 
tion house. I went home perfectly satisfied, and was 
})leased to think that 1 had at least got a man in the 
watch house. 

When 1 got home I found there had been many calls, 
some I was sorry to miss, and there were others I was 
glad I chanced to be from home when they came. It 
M-as now nine o'clock ; I sat down to supper, thinking 
I should have such a good time to rest myself and be 
quiet, congratulating myself that I had not been angry 
or said a thing that was wrong, although I had disap- 
pointed a lady or two. 

IMext morning I went my rounds. On going to the 
lady's I have before mentioned, I heard again the old 
sound — "My money and my position; such and such 
a one is supported by my money." I left those sounds 
behind me, and, on my way home, 1 met three ladies 
going to prayer-meeting, and they made me promise 



230 A nAIK-DRESSEu's ICXPERIENCE 

to go, at eleven o'clock, to the prajer-ineeting at the 
Presbyterian Church, which I did. 

The services were so well conducted that, it seemed 
to me, any one who went once, could not refrain from 
going again. I continued going for a month, and dur- 
ing that time it seemed there were more little parties 
than had been in our city for a number of years. 
Then, again, 1 made up my mind to settle down and 
be quiet — to see and not see, to hear and not hear — 
but 1 found it was impossible to do this and continue 
my occupation as a hair-dresser. 

During this series of meetings, there were two large 
parties given, and I attended thetn both, notwithstand- 
ing I had promised myself, about four hundred times, 
that I would not go to any more of their gay parties. 
There was a young Misses' party on East Fourth- 
street, and all the elite of the city were there. The 
young girls were all pretty and graceful, and there was 
a great display of youthful beauty. At first 1 stayed 
lip stairs, and would not go and see them dance; but 
I loved some of them dearly, and concluded I must go 
and see them enjoy themselves. I stayed during the 
evening, and watched the young curly heads, smooth 
faces, and brilliant dresses ; they looked like little 
fairies flitting about from room to room: occasionally 
several bearded gentlemen were seen in their midst, 
whicli made them look even more fairy-like than 
before. 

The two little hostesses were sisters, and received 
their guests with all the grace and dignity of ladies 
that had been entertaining for twenty-five or thirty 
years ; they seldom danced, but kept looking round to 
see that all enjoyed themselves ; and at the supper- 



IN IITOn LIFE, 231 

table they went from one end of the table to the other, 
to see that all were well helped ; and they did not 
take refreshments themselves until the guests had 
departed. 

After some days had passed, there was a neighbor- 
hood party given, in the East-end: the party was 
given to an officer of high rank, who was a particnhir 
friend to the hostess' son-in-law, who was also an of- 
ficer of eminence, and was universally beloved by all 
who knew him. The ladies were all in full dress, and 
looked very beautiful. The daughter of the hostess 
was dressed plainly, but very elegantly. All passed 
ofl' finely; tiie supper-table was elegantly adorned 
with flowers, and the room was decorated with Ameri- 
can emblems. Several pieces of music, suitable to 
the occasion, were played during supper, by one of 
our best bands. 

One or two gentlemen, who supposed there would 
be no strong drink on the table, came in after indulg- 
ing pretty freely of the water-of-life. One of them 
went to the table with a large handkerchief tied round 
his neck, as napkins are tied round children when 
they go to their meals; this caused a great deal of re- 
mark, and these gentlemen were generally remembered 
to be forgotten at future parties. 

A short time after, it pleased a lady in the West- 
end to give a party. She was a bright, brilliant young 
lady ; and, previous to her party, she had captivated 
some beaux the East-end girls had long set their cai)S 
fur. The latter now got so dreadfully pious they 
would not go to the party, and thought it was awful 
to have a party while a scries of prayer-meetings were 
going on. 



232 A iiair-dressek's experience 

A week or two rolled round, when a party was 
given by the lady of one of our well-known Judges; 
some six hundred tickets were made out; the East-end 
ladies did not think it would be a sin to go to that 
party, as they supposed while in sight of their church 
or steeple there was no harm. It was well they so de- 
termined, for it was a brilliant afiair. The ladies were 
all elegantly dressed, a few of which 1 will describe. 
One lady was dressed in white silk, with upper skirt 
of silk, with white illusion puffings, which swept the 
floor for half a yard. One well-known East Fourth- 
street helle wore a double-skirt of illusion, small pufis 
about half a yard up each side; berthe to match, 
trimmed with little forget-me-nots, which could not be 
distinguished from natural flowers; her hair was 
trimmed with the same shade of blue flowers, droop- 
ing down on her snowy neck, which made her look 
more like wax-work than a human being. She liad 
not tuo much religion to go to either the East or AYest- 
end, whenever she thought it )>rc)per to go. There 
were many others tiiere — but 1 will only say they were 
all beautiful. 

I know a young lady, a native of Cincinnati, who 
was raised and educated in the same city, beautiful 
and liighl_y ac(.'ouii)lished, who lived principally at the 
most fashit)nable hotels, where she made the acquaint- 
ance of an Englishman, who was reputed immenscl_y 
wealthy, and who lell in love with, and married her. 
For a long time she thought two horses were insufii- 
cient to draw them along, and wanted four; she was 
so pampered that at length she fell out with all her 
young schoolmates. They staid through the summer, 
and left in the fall for New Orleans, where they re- 



IN HIGH LIFE. ^Jdo 

mained some time at the Yevandah. The gentleman 
there obcained possession of his Mate's jewelry, and, 
with all the money he could collect, left for parts un- 
known, and for several months was not heard of: when 
last heard of, he was still traveling. It frequently 
happens that those who marry foreigners for their titles 
or wealth, find themselves thus deceived. I can not 
but laugh sometimes to see how some of our upper 
tens get picked up. 

Some few years ago a gentleman came to this city, 
who passed himself off as the son of an Indian chief; 
he was gallanted here and there, and parties were 
given him by some of our first families. Tliis chief 
turned out to be a fugitive slave; he actually both 
roomed and slept with some of our gentlemen, and 
did not feel as if he had lowered himself at all. This 
went on for a few weeks, till a very large party was 
given him; but when they went to look for him they 
found him at what you call a "break-down shin-dig," 
in the lower part of the town. A few days passed, 
and he was captured by his master. Having been 
taken down South, he made master and friends believe 
he would not live in a free State, notwithstanding his 
being so pampered and allowed to go at large. The 
last 1 heard of him he had escaped to Montreal. He 
was as smart a man as I had the pleasure of convers- 
ing with in Toronto. 

During my servitude at Mr. L 's, while running 

around with the child, I one day noticed a little boy 
coming into the ofSce; he looked the very picture of 
distress. Mr. L. asked him what was the matter: lie 
replied that his mother wished to put iiim in a segar 
manufactory, and he did not want to go. Mr. L. 



234 A IIATR-DRERSETl's EXPERIENCE 

then asked him what lie M-anted to do, when, much to 
tlie surprise of all, he answered, "I want to be a 
painter," He had made a drawing, which he showed 
Mr. L., who, in the rough sketch, detected evidence 
of talent, and sent him to one of the best painters 
then in the city. He staid there some time, and tlien 
left the city. A short time after, I went to New York, 
and the first little man 1 met, strutting down Broad- 
way, was this Mr. . Mr. L. had sent him on to 

New York, kept him there till he was prepared, and 
finally sent him to Italy, where he remained for some 
time; and when he left there it was said he was equal, 
if not superior, to some of the teachers. 

This is but one of the ten thousand good acts Mr. 
L. has done; hundreds of such acts have come under 
my own observation. Often have I known gentlemen 
in embarrassed circumstances go to him and get im- 
mediate assistance. Widows that were in trouble 
would ask him for help, and get it M'ithout question. 
Many and many a family that are now in comfortable 
circumstances, but for him would this day be without 
a roof to shelter them. Orphans, without the assist- 
ance rendered by him, M'ould be wandering round the 
streets, homeless and fireless. I have seen as many as 
a hundred, in one day, waiting before his door to re- 
ceive assistance, and none of them go away empty- 
handed. I have seen him pay out as much as sixty or 
a hundred dollars a day, when wood and coal were 
scarce, and hard to be got by the poor, to what we 
call regulars — that is, every-day visitors. 

An Irish lady came to this country, who had been 
very well off in her own land. She brought means 
plenty with her here, but by some misfortune she bo- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 235 

came nearly destitute. She was a widow, and had a 
large family, and although in such straightened cir- 
cumstances, she still moved in a respectable circle. 
Her landlord insisted on her paying her rent, and, as 
a last resource, she thought of Mr. L., went to him 
and told him her story; he asked her no questions, 
but at once put her mind at ease by telling her she 
should have the money, twenty -three dollars, which he 
sent her the same evening. 

I have known families who, when beggars would 
call at their door, would always send them to Mr L., 
it may be at that very moment they having just arisen 
from a sumptuous repast, were sitting in their cush- 
ioned chairs, beside a rousing fire, the house heated 
from the cellar to the garret. Yet, these people having 
every luxury their hearts could wish, would not give 
one cent to the poor who were standing without their 
door, cold and shivering, but would send them, hungry 
and houseless, to Mr. L. because he was charitable, 
and good to the poor. 

Whenever I see an uncharitable act in a gentleman 
or lady, I think of the words I heard from a mass of 
people at the funeral of an old citizen. While they 
were bearing the body away, I heard the voices of 
many people saying, " Well, he is gone ; he was very 
wealthy, but he never did any good either to the State 
or city." In contrast to this, was the funeral of a 
young man, son to a well known gentleman on East 
Fourth street, he was young, but loved by all. While 
they were slowly bearing the body away, I heard the 
voices of many people, one saying he was kind to me, 
another, what will such-and-such a one do ; then again, 
oh, what shall we do, now, how will we get along with- 



236 A IIAIR-DKESSER'S EXPERIENCE 

out him. Then there were carriai^es filled with such 
])eople as do not usually go to such places, going to 
take a last farewell look at one, who in life, they so 
much admired. Truly, his charities were without 
number, and without ostentation, for his right hand 
knew not what his left hand gave. I knew him as a 
boy, and 1 knew him as a man, and always found him 
the same noble, generous, upright character; even his 
dearest friends or his parents did not know many of 
his charities till after his death. The last time he 
was seen by a number of his friends, was at a wed- 
ding, where he was more lively and gay than he had 
been fur a long time before. 

During that winter there were more parties and 
weddings than 1 had ever known beibre; among the 
rest was one given by a gentleman who presented his 
wife with a set of diamonds on the aniversary of her 
wedding, and she invited a large party for the pur- 
pose of her showing them off. Among the guests 
was one lady who was dressed in Avhite satin, and a 
full set of magnificent diamonds ; it was said her dia- 
monds cost as many thousand dollars as those of the 
hostess cost hundreds. Everything was elegant, and 
on the same scale of magnificence she always has her 
parties. 

Some few years ago I was sent for to comb some 
ladies at the Burnet House. 1 went and combed them, 
but did not know them at all. 1 had heard there were 
two ladies at the Burnet House, mother and daughter, 
very wealthy, and said to be old citizens. On my 
combing the young lady, I mentioned the name of a 
lady, and asked her if she knew her. She said yes, 
and was pressing me on to ask more questions, when 



IN HIGH LIKE, 237 

I wa8 stopped by the very evident delight of the 
mother, wliicli at once betrayed to me wlio they were, 
though old citizens, by some means they were not known 
by the fashionables. Tliis lady was very elegant, and 
highly educated, but so very diffident, tiie ladies found 
it very difficult to converse with her. I soon Ibuiid out 
both mother and daughter were delighted at buiiig 
singled out and noticed for their wealth, an! as the 
Burnet House is known to be a l)Ouse to bring people 
out, she was soon brought into notice, and sought alter 
by fortune hunters. 

I remember the first party they were invited to ; it 
was by a gentleman who became acquainted wiih her 
when she was at school, and, through politeness [>aid 
attention to her. Tiiis alarmed some of the parents of 
the fortune hunters, aud they went to her mother to 
get her to leave, and go on a winter's tour. They suc- 
ceeded in this, but her fame for wealth following her, 
she had many beaux. On her return home, one fol- 
lowed her, and paid her a great deal of attention, till 
at length he was ordered out of the house by her 
mother, and forbidden to see the young lady again, 
while there was another whose visits were encouraged. 
When the latter got a little acquainted, he was run otf 
by another, and so on, till five, to my certain know- 
ledge, were run olf in this manner. At length she 
was taken to another State, a fugitive, to escape 
from a gentleman she had positively promised to 
marry. 

While there, she fell into the hands of one who was 
more shrewd than any she had been previously en- 
gaged to, and she promised to marry him. He came 
to visit her, the time for the marriage was appointed, 



238 A iiair-dresser's experience 

and everything seemed fair; on leaving, he was not 
to come again until he came to claim his bride. 

Some mouths rolled around, and he came to claim 
his prize, when, to his great surprise, the word was, 
no, not now, and he was requested to go, and come 
again. He was about to do so, when he received an 
anonymous letter, saying " don't leave her or she will 
be run off; if you want her, marry her now, and take 
her with you." So he went to her and told her she 
must go with him, now or never. She consented to 
be married immediately. 

When her friends Ibund she was determined, and 
all ready, bag and baggage, consent was given for her 
to be married in the houso. I went there in the morn- 
ing, and I must say, among the hundred and fifty 
brides I have dressed, I have never seen so many rolls 
of paper unrolled, or so many lawyers in my life. I 
don't know whether they were afraid of herself, or 
her property running away, but certain it is, she had 
to sign one paper after another, and he the same, till 
they were tired ; at length, they were married. 

One day a lady came to my house in a private car- 
riage when I was not at home, and left a message for 
me to comb her, as she had cut her hand so badly she 
could not comb her own hair ; and as she said I had 
combed her at the Burnet House, I took it for granted 
she must be a lady I had been in the habit of combing. 
I was very tired when 1 came home, yet as the lady 
had cut her hand 1 felt it my duty to comb her. 

On going to her house I found it to be in the center 
of the city, and on one of our best streets, but it looked 
like a boarding house. It was not a customary thing 
for me to dress hair in a common boarding house, but 



IN HIGH LIFE. 239 

I thonuht perhaps it might be soihc one who liad been 
livinu; fast in the Burnet Ilonse and had come down. 
1 rang the door bell and a small female voice asked, 
"who is there?"' I said "the hair-dresser," but I 
thought it a very queer procedure. She opened the 
door and I went in. The stairs were in the middle of 
the house with rooms on each side. I took a peep in 
both parlors but saw nothing but a brilliant gas light 
and a bright lire, with a piano open in each parlor, a 
harp or one side of the piano, and flutes on the other ; 
and from all appearance visitors were expected. 

The little girl that opened the door, supposing 1 was 
going in the parlors, ran up the stairs hallooing "this 
way, this waj-." I followed on, having no suspicion of 
wrong till I entered the room. On going in 1 found it 
was a little black-eyed, curley haired woman that had 
fooled me and a pupil of mine before in like manner. 
When I saw her I did not know what to do, whether 
to tell her what I thought of her and not comb her or 
comb her and leave quietly. I thought the latter 
course the best. While combing her I asked if this 
was a dress-making establishment ora boarding house. 
She said neither, it was a private house ; but I had 
my doubts. When 1 got her about half combed there 
came in two or three girls and took a peep. 1 eyed 
them well. In a few minutes several more come in 
and as soon as they opened their mouths I knew what 
the creatures were. 

I was about fifteen minutes combing the woman, 
and when I had finished about half a dozen of them 
asked me to comb them. 1 refused, saying 1 had a 
previous engagement which I was compelled to keep. 
At this moment a tall lady came into the room whom I 
20 



240 A IIAIR-DRESSEU'S EXPERIENCE 

had often seen before in some of our most fashionable 
stores ; she asked me if I would comb her. As I 
wanted to know something about the house I agreed 
to do so, and went into her room. While combing 
her I asked her if this was a boarding house ; she said 
" Yes, its a fancy boarding house." I told her that 
woman had deceived me. She was angry when she 
heard this, and said the girl was entirely too bold, 
that she went to public places, concerts and even to 
the Burnet House hops, and took a pride in boasting 
of it. 

I have heard much talk of taming horses but I never 
knew or heard of any horse being so well tamed as a 
a gentlemen in high life not a thousad miles from our 
Queen City. Many of my readers, I am sure, know 
the gentleman ; his wife was in bad health, and on 
several occasions he was known to be cruel to her. 
Several of her friends and relations got together and 
determined to M'hip him, but the great trouble was to 
get him out of the house at night, as he was an arrant 
coward, as all men are who treat their wives badly. 
A very shrewd young gentleman hit on a plan — he 
got a horse and putting on a pair of spurs made the 
horse prance and make a great noise outside the door, 
at twelve o'clock at night, then put spurs to the horse 
and dashed oif at the top of his speed ; at this moment 
another young gentleman laid down at the door, groan- 
ing as if in great pain. This man, thinking somebody 
had been thrown off their horse, came out with noth- 
ing on but his linen, to see what was wrong; when he 
was pounced upon by two or three that were waiting 
for him ; taken to a thicket not far from the house and 
whipped in the public woods. Since then he has been 



IN HIGH LIFE. 241 

a loving, kind and indulgent husband and his wife 
has perfectly recovered her health. 

One season on returning from Saratoga, I notictd 
among the passengers a Cincinnati lady returning 
home, bringing with her a lady from New York. 
This lady had no particular standing in New York, 
nor did she know any fashionable people there. The 
Cincinnati lady belonged to the third circle, but made 
her visitor believe she belonged to the first, and could 
introduce her into it as soon as she got to Cincinnati. 

I was sitting right beliind them, and as I had ahead- 
ache, I kept my vail over my face. They, supposing 
me asleep, kept up the conversation and talked over a 
good many of the ladies' names I worked for, and also 
my own name was mentioned ; it was with difficulty 
I kept still, but wishing to hear them finish their con- 
versation, I kept as quiet as I could. 

The Cincinnati lady began to tell what they would 
do when they got to the city. "In the morning," 

said she " we will go to Miss B 's and then to 

S 's dry goods store, and in the evening to Smith 

& Nixon's Hall ; next morning to the confectionery, 
and in the afternoon to the dancing school. Strakosch 
is expected, and we will then buy a handsome head 
dress, have our hair dressed, and go to the concert in 
the evening. The other lady inquired, with some sur- 
prise, "Why have you hair-dressers in Cincinnati !'' 
the reply was, " Why mercy, yes, yes indeed, we have 
hair-dressers in Cincinnati, and one is so fashionable 
she goes to Saratoga, Newport, and New York. I 
have never had her yet to comb me, but we wUl take 
a carriage and go for her to come and comb us ; and 
you make her believe you are in the habit of going all 



242 A HAiE- dresser's experience 

round to the fashionable watering places ; but be care- 
ful to say you were stopping at the other hotel from 
the one she was combing at. After hearing their plans 
I tookanoppertunity of moving my seat and made up 
my mind to be prepared for them. 

Some three or four weeks had passed after my arri- 
val at home, when, truly, one day a handsome car- 
riage came to the door, and the occupants of it seemed 
to be quite fashionable ladies. They asked me to go 
down to the west end and comb them. I told them 
it was farther than I wished to go, as I was getting old 
now, but if they would send for me at five o'clock 1 
would go and comb them. At exactly five the carri- 
age drove up and getting in, 1 was driven to the west 
end. I found the house very unpretending on the 
outside, but inside elegance itself. There were, 
besides the lady herself, two very beautiful girls, and 
the New York lady. She introduced me to the three 
— to the two young girls as her daughters and the other 
as a lady from New York ; and then requested them 
to leave the room till she was combed. 

When they had gone and I was combing her she 
told me this lady was one of the fashionables of New 
York, lived in a magnificent house on one of the most 
fasiiionable streets, and was one of the leaders of ton. 
I told her I could see she was, as soon as I saw one of 
them 1 could easily tell their position. She said : " I 
wish you to be very particular in combing this lady, 
as she has been in the habit of having her hair dressed 
every day in New York, her position in New York is 
fur superior to mine here ; yet I think this election 
will l)ring us near right, as we were at dancing school 
the other evening, and the ladies were all bending and 



IN HIGH LIFE. 243 

smiling at ns ; some of them spoke who never noticed 
me before ; I suppose it was on account of my hus- 
band, who has a great deal of influence. I intend 
giving a party next week on my daughters' account, 
and am going to ask several whose acquaintance we 
made at the dancing school, and some of them I know 
you know very well, and througii your influence I ex- 
pect they will come ; do not tell me you can not per- 
suade them, as I know many places where you took 
children to visit and by that means the parents Anally 
became on visiting terms; you can do the same 
for me." 

I told her she flattered me, as 1 did not know before 
I had that influence with either children or parents; 
and then I observed to her, " Madam, I will tell you 
a better plan than that : i\.s you wish your daught- 
ers to be fashionable ; rent out your house, go 
to the Burnet House, take rooms there, and 3'our 
daughters, being beautiful and accom]:)lished, will soon 
be fashionable ; with the gentlemen there is noth- 
ing can keep them out of the fashionable circle of 
ladies. 

"I have known hundreds who were raised in this city 
in moderate circumstances, who, when they accumu- 
lated a little money, went to the Burnet House and 
soon became fashionable people. One lady from whom, 
several years ago, 1 used to buy apples at her little 
stand, when I was nurse for my children, afterward 
became a fashionable lady at the Burnet House. But, 
indeed, madam,! am a poor hand to give advice of 
this kind, as I myself am too high spirited to crouch 
to anybody for position or anything else." I had now 
finished, and the lady said, "you will now comb my 



2M A ITAIR-DKESSEIi's KXPERIENCE 

friend; you will pluasc say nothing of our conversa- 
tion to her." 

The New York lady came in and took her seat be- 
fore an immense mirror, and I commenced to comb 
her. Her conversation was New York, and New York 
fashionables, her position there, and so forth ; she 
mentioned boarding on Seventh-street, with a Mrs. 

B ., when I said to her, "she does not keep a 

boarding house now, madam," She said, "No, but 
she did." I replied, "Yes, 1 know she did, and 
boarded many persons to whom slie was far superior 
herself. I knew her when she kept boarding house on 
States-street, New York, opposite the Battery, and 
had three beautiful and interesting daughters. Her 
husband failed in business, and she strove to do some- 
thing to educate her daughters, and to assist her hus- 
band. Many a morning have I seen her sit at the 
head of the table washing her cups and saucers in a 
cider tub, with the brass bands glittering like gold ; 
her little daughters would stand on each side of her 
with towels, one wiping the dishes and the other 
wiping the silver, before going to school. On going 
to school you would see them with their little ging- 
liam a])rons, made high to the throat, with a little 
ruffle, with warm hoods on and cloaks, trotting along 
through the snow. I was nursing nearly opposite 
where they lived. My attention was one morning at- 
tracted by the conversation of two little wealthy chil- 
dren who were taking leave of their mamma before 
stepping into an elegant carriage that stood waiting 
for them ; they were dressed not only warmly but in 
the hight of fashion. These other children were pas- 
sing by, going to school, when one of the little wealthy 



IN HIGH LIFE. 245 

ones cried out : "Oh, mamma, look at those two little 
girls, actually walking through the snow ; may 1 ask 
them in the carriage ?" The other says, "No, they are 
poor children," wlien the mother cried : "Their parents 
are poor, and keep a boarding house ; you must nut 
ask them into my carriage." These children, though 
raised in a boarding house, are now married and liv- 
ing in style ; one in New Jersey and the other in 
Fifth Avenue, both wealthy ; while the parents of the 
others are broken up and noM^ actually keep a board- 
inof house, and not a fashionable one at that. 

The New York lady blushing, said : "You misun- 
derstood me, I did not mean to make any insinuations 
against her ; I merely mentioned I had been board- 
ing there." 

I told her when my friends were mentioned 1 did 
not wish to hear them spoken of in a slighting way, 
as 1 had a great habit of defending them. 

She turned quickly then, and inquired, " Have I 
not seen you before at Saratoga ?" I told her it might 
be, but unless she saw me at the United States, I reck- 
oned she did not see me. She said she stopped at the 
Union, but she thought she saw me at the springs. I 
told her she was mistaken, for although I had been 
going to Saiatoga these ten years, I had only been at 
the springs three times in my life. She then said she 
got acquainted in New York with a lady from one of 
the towns on the Ohio river. It was at the dress- 
makers and both had to wait a little while in the par- 
lor and thus got acquainted. 

She then began to tell me of Miss F.'s wealth, and 
how she was splud^ing it in New York, when I said, 
"Well, she may be spludging it around in New 



246 A iiair-dresser's experience 

York, and boasting of her family and wealtli, but I 
know of one transaction she was engaged in, that 
does not add much to lier credit. I will tell you what 
it is 1 allude to. By some means they had in their 
family a slave w^ho was to serve for a certain length of 
time, and then get his freedom. The older memljers 
of tiie family began to think freedom was too sweet a 
thing to give this boy, and wanted to keep him a slave 
for life; but fearing the law, they tried to get him 
sent to Kentucky, but did not know how to accomplish 
it, when this young, artless lady made up the plot her- 
self. She sent the boy down to a boat for some apples 
which were on board ; the boy took the basket and 
went for the apples, but the captain being in the plot, 
when the boy came on board, shoved ofi' the boat and 
carried him away." 

There is another lady in the same neighborhood, 
who sports a splendid set of diamonds, and I will now 
tell you how she got them. "It has been a secret; 
even her neighbors to this day do not know where the 
girl is they saw so frequently about the house. This 
lady married a gentleman from a southern State, who 
owned several slaves, but was a good hearted man, 
and a perfect gentleman at that time. Being about to 
get married to a lady in a free State, this gentleman 
dt'termined to free his servants. He commenced by 
freeing a woman of, it may be, 22 or 23 years old. 
After his marriage, he took the girl as domestic in the 
house with his wife, the girl feeling she was free, and 
not being so well treated as she had been in the slave 
States, thought she would like to hire herself to some 
one else. Being very severely treated by this lady, 



IN HIGH LIFE. 247 

and kept so bard at work, she had no time to make 
her clothes, unless at night. 

One night she was sitting at twelve o'clock, busy 
sewing, her clothes all open round her, when she heard 
a buggy drive up to the door, and the voices of some 
two or three men, one of whom called to her to come 
there. She went Ibrward to see what was the matter, 
when two of the men caught her and threw her into 
the buggy, where the other man stood ; he caught her 
by the throat and prevented her making any outcry ; 
the other two men jumped in, and they all drove off, 
still holding her tightly round the neck till they had 
got out of hearing of the people in the different houses. 
They drove down to the river where a skiff was wait- 
ing for them, which carried them across. They hur- 
ried to Louisville, and at once put her in jail therej 
lest any one should recognize her. 

The next morning the lady ran all around inquiring 
if any body had seen her girl, as when she got up that 
morning, the girl was gone. It remains a mystery 
to this day to some of the people of that city, what- 
ever became of that girl. 

I was, not long after this occurrence, on one of the 
fashionable steamboats going from Louisville to New 
Orleans. A few moments before the boat was ready 
to leave, this girl was brought on board by a I'riend of 
her former master, and given in charge of the captain 
and chambermaid. Wiien I saw the girl I immedi- 
ately recognized her, and asked her what was the mat- 
ter witii her eyes, as they were all blood-shot, and the 
mark of men's fingers were yet on her neck. When 
she told her story, the sympathy of many on board 
was excited for her, but we were going fast down 
21 



248 A HAIB-DBE89EK's expebiesce 

stream, and nothing could be done for her, although 
there were several on board who knew she had been 
taken from Kentucky to secure her freedom. They 
put her off below Baton Rouge." 

When I had concluded, the lady exclaimed, "Oh, 
heavens, I would rather go back to New York and 
work there, than be here among the fashionables." 
I told her if she belonged to the fashionables of New 
York, it was all the same, as a great many of the 
splendid mansions on Fifth Avenue, and other fash- 
ionable parts of the city were built with the price of 
blood ; for a great many southerners when they accu- 
mulated a little money, were in the habit of coming 
north every summer, and often secured homesteads in 
New York. "I will not stay here long, but before I 
leave, will come to see you and get you to tell me 
some things you saw and know of the South." I said 
to her, if you come to my house, I will tell you many 
things, and give you occular demonstration too, of the 
truth of what 1 have been telling you, for I will show 
you an old woman there, and she will tell you how 
she was treated while down South. 

The next Sunday evening while part of the members 
of my family were gone to church, and I was sitting 

alone. Miss came in, almost out of breath, as 

she had great difficulty in finding the house. The 
last time she had been there she rode, and as this was 
Sunday evening, the stores were all closed, and she 
found it rather strange, but making inquiries, and 
finding the street, she soon found the house. 

On coming in she told me she had but little time to 
stay, and she wanted to have a good interview with 
me; she said she had told the family she was stopping 



IN HIGH LIFE. 249 

with, she was going to church, but she thought it wa8 
better to come aud see me thau to go to church ten 
times. I made up my mind 1 would tell her several 
little incidents, but first I called in the old woman, 
who had been a slave for some fifty -tour or five years. 
During that time, she was sold four or five times; 
the last man who bought her, kept her for twenty-three 
years, and after working her almost to death, he forced 
her freedom on her, and sent her to Ohio with fifteen 
dollars in her pocket. 

After she had conversed freely with the old woman, 
the latter left the parlor, when the lady commenced 
the conversation with me by saying, "I am an abo- 
litionist." " I am very sorry indeed to hear that," I re- 
plied. She started, and looked at me in perfect 
amazement; when I said, "1 don't like abolitionists, 
nor any that bear the name, as I have seen so much in- 
justice and wrong, and actually speculation done in that 
name, that 1 hate to hear it ; but 1 like every per- 
son — slave-holders, freediolders, or any other kind of 
holders who treat all people right, regardless of nation, 
station or color ; and all men and women who love 
their Redeemer, will do this without confining them- 
selves to any one name to make themselves conspicu- 
ous. I have known many ladies here, who contribu- 
ted to causes that were good, but would have their 
names withheld, for fear they would be called aboli- 
tionists, for the name abolitionist is applied in con- 
tempt, to those who wish to do mischief. 

Miss — — then said, "I understand you now, and 
your princii)les; now tell me something about the 
South." 

" I will now tell you, madam, of a gentleman who 



250 A hair-dkesser's experience 

went from one of the Eastern States to St. Louis, some 
thirtj^-five or forty years ago. After accumulating a 
good deal of wealth, he bought a woman to keep house 
for him, and raised two daughters. lie put them in a 
convent to receive their education, and when they 
were about seventeen years old, they came out, very 
elegant and accomplished girls. They lived with their 
father, his lawful acknowledged daughters. After a 
year had expired, he took suddenly ill and died, with- 
out having made any preparation for his daughters, or 
secured their freedom, as he supposed they would en- 
joy all the rights of children. 

"He had two brothers, who, hearing of his death, 
came to St. Louis to settle up his affairs; they, wish- 
ing to take home all they could with them, put these 
two girls and their mother up and sold them to the 
highest bidders. People from all parts came to pur- 
chase these girls ; but tliey declined serving anybody, 
they chose death rather than slavery ; but in spite of 
all they could say or do, they were put up. 

" The first one sold was the mother; she was bought 
by a man in Texas, and was hurried away forthwith. 
On leaving her daughters she impressed it on their 
minds, as her parting charge, to always live respecta- 
bly, to suffer death rather than degradation, and never 
to forget there is a God who has promised to hear 
his people's prayers, and deliver those who call 
upon him. 

"The youngest girl was sold to a man who took 
her up Red river for his ln)usekeeper. The other one 
was bought by a trader, taken to New Orleans, and sold 
to two or three diflerent people; but, on account of 
her refinement and determination, she was always re- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 251 

turned to tiie yard, and every time she was taken 
back she received a severe lashing, 

"I was one day combing a lady at the St. Ciiarles 
who was in ill health, and had been there some time ; 
her father, while walking round, used to go into these 
traders' yards to see the slaves who were for sale. 
One day he saw this young girl, and was immediately 
struck by her appearance and accomplishments; as 
the traders had told him she was an accomplished 
lady's maid, he came home and told his daughter 
about her, and said his heart bled for her. The young 
lady expressed a wish to see her, when her father said 
he would have her sent up, as he did not know but he 
might wish to purchase her. I said I would be much 
obliged to them if they would not have her brought 
up till the next day, when I could be there combing, 
as I should like to see her. 

"The next day at eleven o'clock the girl was there; 
both the young lady and her mother conversed with 
her, and found out all about her. The young lady 
being in ill health, became so excited that she took one 
of her bad spells, and tiiey feared she would die. The 
young girl was hurried back to the yard again, when 
the trader asked her what was said, or would tliey buy 
her. She did not say anything, except that the lady 
did not want her. 'Then,' said he, 'that must be 
your own fault, as you did not make yourself as agree- 
able as you should have done ;' and he gave her a se- 
vere whipping. 

"If any purchaser comes into these yards to see the 
slaves, and they do not all rise up and make them- 
selves as agreeable as possible, so as to make a sale, 
on the departure of the person they are severely 



252 A iiair-dresser's experience 

scourged. If the women are low-spirited, thej give 
them some stimulating drink to rouse them up and 
drive away their dullness or low spirits; while to the 
men, brandy, mixed with a little gunpowder, is given 
for the same purpose. The slaves and the apartments 
are both dressed up at particular times, when the pur- 
chasers are in the habit of coming in, 

"About a week after this occurrence, the young 
lady requested me to go down and see this girl, if I 
could, but not to let any one know what my object 
was. 1 went, and walked round, looking at them all, 
until I at length got to where she was, when, in a low 
tone, I told her the message sent by the young lady to 
her, ' to remember her mother's words, and what she 
herself had said to her.' She replied, ' Tell her 1 have 
made a vow, and it is registered in heaven — death 
hefore dislionor!' I returned to the hotel and gave 
the young lady the girl's reply. She was laying on 
the sofa, and her mother sitting beside her; she ex- 
claimed, 'God will hear my prayers, mother, I know 
He will.' 

"That was the last time I saw the slave girl until, 
some two or three years after, I met her and her mother 
on Broadway, in New York. I was walking when I 
met the two ; but having never seen them but two or 
three times, and not expecting to meet them there, I 
did not know her. However, she at once knew me, 
and spoke to me. We went over and sat down in the 
Park, when she told me all her troubles. After her 
mother had been about a year in Texas, she came 
across a gentleman who knew her former master, but 
did not know he was dead. On hearing of his death, 
and her having been sold, he was very sorry, and told 



IN HIGH LIFE. 253 

her he owed her former master three thousand dollars, 
and he would now take the money and try and pur- 
chase herself and daughter. She told him she had 
his note, as she had kept it, and never given it up, 
still thinking she might meet him some time. He 
bought her, and went down to New Orleans, when he 
found the girl had been bought by very cruel people; 
and as they could never make her contented or satis- 
tied, they now regretted their bargain. He offered 
one thousand dollars for her, which her master took 
very readily: so he sent tliem immediately to New 
York, and then went up Red river to see if he could 
get the other daughter ; but she was perfectly satisfied 
with her situation, and refused to leave. 'And now, 
ray dear langy,' said she, ' I arrived in Boston in time 
to see my dear friend before her death ; I was there 
just three weeks before she died, and when I went 
into the room, she started up, and, clasping her hands, 
cried, Mother, God has heard my prayers! Mother 
and I now both belong to the same church; we are 
free, soul and body.' This man who bought these wo- 
men was born in the South, but spent a number of 
years in the North. 

"I will now tell you another little incident of a lady 
who lived in Louisville, and had a slave girl hired, 
who saw and knew a great deal of her chaste conduct. 
She feared she would tell her husband or some of his 
friends of her conduct ; so she told her master many 
tales on her, and got him to sell her to a man who 
would take her far away from her native land. There 
was a hair-dresser in New Orleans who was sold five 
diflerent times, for a thousand dollars each time, and, 
by each of her owners, promised her freedom when- 



254 A haik-dkesser's experiencte 

ever she hud made the thousand dolhirs and given it to 
them. Incited by the hope of being free, she worked 
hard ; but as soon as she had paid eiglit or nine hun- 
dred dollars to her master, he would sell her to some 
one else, who would make the same promise, and then 
break it in the same shameful manner. At length the 
girl became so exasperated by her many grievous dis- 
appointments, that she lost her reason, and is now a 
lunatic. Her name was Louise. She was well known 
to those who stopped at the St. Charles and St. Louis. 

"1 will now tell you of a gentleman, who lived in 
Louisiana, who had a housekeeper and two daughters. 
He sent his daughters to Oberlin to school, and took a 
house there for his housekeeper to be with them. On 
going there, the Oberlin people would not let him stay 
unless he married the housekeeper." He did marry 
her, and settled a great deal of property on her and 
her daughters. In a short time he went to England, 
and on his return he brought her a magnificent English 
carriage ; her house is in keeping with her carriage — 
elegant, indeed. It was whispered by some that he 
would not dare go back South ; but he did go back, 
staid there awhile, disposed of his property, and re- 
turned to his wife. His daughters were mulattoes, and 
his wife was very dark. 

"Now, madam, I need not tell you anything more. 
I have shown you the dark and the fair sides of the 
South. Were 1 to tell you one-half what I know, it 
would take me every moment of a week." 

Miss , when rising to leave, said, "I have been 

much interested by what you have told me ; say no- 
thing of our meeting; I will give 3'ou my card, and 
come to see me in New York." 



IN HIGH LIFE. 255 

Many years ago 1 was luirsiug fur Mrs. W , at 

the Broadway Hotel. My charge was a little girl, 
who has since grown up an elegant, accomplished and 
beautiful young lady — an ornament to society, and 
also the city that gave her birth. While nursing there, 
I was one night sent out for some coal — as Mrs. W. 
did not only mind her children by day, but during the 
night, to see to their comfort. It was about two 
o'clock. The coal was kept in a closet under the stair- 
way. While there, I heard a noise in the hall, which 
alarmed me very much, and on looking out I saw 
three gentlemen, stepping about very softly. I thought 
they were robbers, and went into the closet and closed 
the door. 

Presently I heard the voice of a female, when, get- 
ting over my fright, I opened the door and went out. 
Immediately a woman, running out, caught hold of 
me, and asked me to save her. I asked her what was 
the matter, when she said those men meant to kill 
her. She clung to me, and came with me to my lady's 
door, when I left her and took in the coal — telling my 
lady of the matter, and saying I would go back and 
stay an hour or so with her, which my lady permitted 
me to do. 

I found her to be a Mrs. , from Maine. She 

was of medium hight, had beautiful, wavy chesnut 
hair, and showed every appearance of having been 
well raised and of good family. After much persua- 
sion, I got her to her room. She would let no one 
near her but me, and i sat down on the floor, took her 
on my lap, and sung to her for six long hours, and 
by that means kept her quiet; but I was exhausted 
myself. 



256 A iiair-deesser's experience 

About the seventh hour she got outrageous again. 
Her husband and some gen tleinen friends were in the 
next room, fearing she would become unmanageable 
and I might require their assistance ; but not so, as I 
lound in her o^reatest rao-e I could manao;e her. She 
raved throughout the whole day, but toward night be- 
came a little more calm ; then nothing would do but 
I must go to bed. Thinking I was asleep, she took a 
light and held it to my face, then she got a pair of 
stockings, pulled them on my feet, and decorated my 
head with blue ribbnns ; she then locked the door, 
took out the key and put it in her bosom ; then com- 
ing to the bed, she again looked at me, and still think- 
ing me asleep, gently opened the window. I now 
sprang to my feet and asked her what she was going 
to do. She said she was going out. I told her she 
should not do so, when she again got into one of her 
most ungovernable fits. 

1 was afraid I could not manage her and called for 
assistance, but no one could get in as the door was 
locked and the ke}' in her bosom. I had at length to 
throw her down and take the key from her and throw 
it over the door top, when her husband got it, opened 
the door and came in : it was then about twelve o'clock 
at night and she raged till twelve the next day. 

Her husband and the doctor went out and procure^! 
a furnished house. The family owning it had left foi 
the south, and they took the house, thinking they couKl 
manage her better by having her quiet and still. 

I went with her to the house, and her husband 
employed another woman to assist me in taking care 
of her. I staid with her all the day and about eleven 
o'clock at night I went to bed feeling perfectly ex- 



IN HIGH LIFE, 257 

Imusted and wearied out, leaving the woman and her 
husband to take care of her. I suppose I had been in 
bed and asleep about an hour when I was startled by 
hearing "langy, langy," called in tones of terror and 
dismay, and a very sudden loud knocking at my door. 

I sprang to the floor but was so frightened and be- 
wildered for a few moments I could scarcely get my 
senses together. At length 1 distinguished the voice of 
Mr. W, calling on me. In a great hurry, I ran down 
the stairs and found the piano upset, all the bed clothes 
and tlie bed on the floor, and the woman madly dan- 
cing on the slats of the bedstead. 

I called to her in a stern voice, and asked her what 
she was doing. She leaped down oft' the bed when 
she heard my voice and, throwing herself on my neck, 
told me they had been trying to kill her all the time I 
was gone, and that I must not leave her again. She 
raved till the morning, when I got her quiet and put 
her to bed. I was sitting beside her, while she was 
lying there, when some ladies came in to inquire after 
her health. Thinking she was asleep they sat down 
and began to question me ; among other questions 
they asked me if I was not afraid of her. Before I had 
time to reply she started up and said, in a furious 
voice, "And what if she is, is that your business ?" 
The ladies were so frightened they ran out of the room 
as quick as they could. She then turned to me and 
said, quite playfully, " Did I notdothat well,Iangy ?" 
Their hopes of her getting better were not verified ; 
she continued to get worse until they heard of a va- 
cancy in the Asylum at Columbus, when they at once 
made arrangements to have her taken there. 

There were three of us in the carriage ; the woman, 



258 A hair-dresser's experience 

her husband and myself. She laid the whole day on 
my hij), but liad some drciub'ul tits of insanity. She 
took my bonnet oti' my head and put it down in the 
bottom of the carriage for a spit box, while I had to go 
on to Cokimbus bounetless. 

On reacliing Columbus we put up at the NlmI House, 
and after taking her to a room, I left her to get some 
things out of the carriage; I had not been gone but a 
few moments when I heard tiie woman screanung for 
me at the top of her voice. I ran up the stairs and 
found her taking down all the pictures and the mirror 
from the wall. I succeeded, in my old way, in quiet- 
ing her again, and got her laid gently on the bed. In 
her worst fits I could quiet her by singing. 

Wiiile laying in the bed she said to me, "langy, I 
am not mad now, I am only crazy ; wlien I get in my 
mad fits don't let me hurt you." She sometimes was 
very ferocious, and gave me some severe blows. 

She now gave me a short history of her life and 
what made her craz}'. She said she was a native of 
Maine and married. this gentleman against her parents 
wish, he took her to a hotel in New York and she was 
there for some time, until his friends thought he was 
making too much of a lady of her. They kept talk- 
ing to iiim until he at length went to housekeeping, 
and then two or three of his family came and lived 
with her, and were very ugly to her, even in her own 
liouse. Then her husband got to staying out at night. 
Often, while she would be at the window looking out 
for him, her hair was wet through with the dew of 
night. She also told me if she ever got married again 
siie would never have du old maid or a widow living 
with her ; for one day, having finished her dinner be- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 259 

fore her husband, she left the table ; on goin<>- through 
tlie hall she saw a uote in her husband's hat which slie 
fuund, upon reading, was from the seamstress, then in 
her employ, appointing the time and place for a pri- 
vate meeting. 

She had nut finished her history till she again gut 
into one of her mad fits. I told her husband what she 
had said, but he told me there was no truth in her 
story, it was only a freak of her fancy. 

The carriage was ordered, and we went to the asy- 
lum. On reaching there we heard screaming and 
shouting; some preaching, some praying, some blas- 
pheming. She at once said : "Oh, laugy, this is the 
mad-house, and they are going to put me in," and she 
became, apparently, as well as she ever was in her life, 
and was perfectly calm and collected. On reaching 
the door two physicians came out ; she took an arm 
of each and walked in. On getting to the top of the 
stairs she turned back and looked at me and bowed 
her head. 1 burst into heartfelt tears, and I assure 
you I wept freely. I never shall forget her look, 
should I live a century. 

I have several times, during my narrative, men- 
tiuned dressing in Cincinnati, or its immediate neigh- 
borhood, one hundred and fifty brides. Many of them 
were very lovely, but none more so than the tenth that 
I dressed ; she was, indeed, a beautiful creature, and 
was as lovely in her disposition as in her appearance. 
She and her husband were universally beloved, not 
only in Cincinnati, but wherever they chanced to go. 
Their wedding was one of the largest ever witnessed 
in this city — there having been nearly a thuusand in- 
vitatiuns sent out — and a gay and brilliant party it 



260 A HAIR- dresser's EXPERIENCE 

was. The bride's dress was very rich and elegant — 
she wore but a single ornament — a magnificent dia- 
mond cross, which had been presented to her a few 
moments before her marriage. There were two tables 
filled with elegant and costly presents. It has been 
my privilege to show the presents of many brides, but 
never have I exhibited any with the same pleasure and 
gratification that I did these, on account of the respect 
and love I felt for the parties. 

Some few years after this marriage I was called on 
to comb the grandmother of the groom for her gol- 
den wedding. One of her bridesmaids was there also, 
and heartily did the two old ladies laugh at the idea 
of having their hair dressed, as in the olden times, 
when they were married, hair-dressers were unknown 
and unthought of. 

Never again, do I expect to witness in this city, or 
perhaps anywhere, such a scene as I saw that night. 
There was an immense number assembled ; old and 
young and middle aged and all, seemed full of happi- 
ness. Tables were set in two large rooms that opened 
into each other ; they were elegantly and beautifully 
spread, filled with every delicacy, and all kinds of 
wine. In the parlor, which is so immense it is seldom 
or never used except on such occasions, I noticed a 
painting representing Ilamlet and Othello ; the figures 
were as large as life. This painting, which occupies 
one whole side of a room, was beautifully decorated 
with evergreens. 

On entering the house, you come into a large square 
hall, the walls of which are painted with beautiful 
scenery. On one side of this hall is the private parlor, 
where are all the family portraits, and numbers of 



IN HIGH LIFE. 261 

other costly and elegant paintings. On either side of 
the mantle is a large ornamented case filled with all 
kinds of shells, geological specimens, and in fact, 
everything rare and beautiful. 

You might spend many days in going over this 
house and the grounds, and always find many things 
to attract your attention. Although the house is situa- 
ted in the most fashionable part of the city, the en- 
closure contains twelve or fifteen acres. You can there 
find rare flowers and fruits from every clime. While 
wandering through these grounds one can scarcely 
believe he is in the heart of a great city. Here are 
three or four handsome green houses ; a large fish 
pond, with a fountain continually playing in it ; a 
gai'dener's house ; a warren for rabbits ; a house for 
pigeons, and one for bees; and if you descend along 
that graveled walk, lined on each side with wild flow- 
ers, you will come to a large vineyard of the choicest 
kinds of grapes. 

Strangers are allowed the privilege of walking 
through these grounds and looking in the green houses. 
With all his wealth so unassuming is Mr. L. that after 
he has shown strangers through the grounds, I have 
known them when leaving to offer him money for his 
trouble, little thinking that plain and unassuming 
man was the owner of the magnificent place they had 
been admiring, and the wealthiest man in the west. 

On my going early to work one December morning, 
I saw a great crowd collected on the corner of Fourth 
and Elm. On coming to the place, I found the boys 
bad taken possession of their usual winter pleasure 
grounds. The driver of a soap-cart had presumed to 
intrude upon their grounds, and a number of the boys 



262 A hair-dresser's experience 

fastened their sleds on to the old man's cart, while 
others were pelting him with snow balls' till in a short 
time you could not tell him from a snow ball that the 
bo3's often make and set up for a show. During the 
season of tiie snow and ice the boys have three streets 
to themselves, from Fourth to Columbia, on Race, Elm 
and Plum. On these streets, when there is any snow, 
it is very dangerous for carriages or teams to pass ; 
that is, when the boys have made up their minds to 
keep the track for their sleds. I have seen sleds of all 
sizes, from those that would hold one or two, to those 
that would carry twenty-five, going down these streets. 
Sometimes there are as many as two or three hun- 
dred at a time. Persons of all ranks and denomina- 
tions will stand and look on to see the boys enjoy the 
sport. The boys, during this season, are perfectly 
united, they will not suffer any one to be imposed on ; 
it is the only time you will find among children all 
prejudice cast aside. All sizes and ages, nations and 
ranks, are here collected together, and all are on a foot- 
ing of equality ; the ragged and neat, rich and poor 
children go down on the same sled. 

Going on a little farther, I found the boys had 
made a slide opposite the church; I slipped on it, and 
down I went. The little ones enjoyed it very much, 
to see a big woman fall down on their sliding place, 
not breaking any bones. I got up and went on to my 
work, for notwitstanding the pavements were one sheet 
of ice, the ladies were determined to be dressed for a 
party that was to be given in the west end. 

This was the first party given by this west end lady. 
Some of them thought the east end ladies would not 
go, and as they did not wish to go if the eastend ladies 



IN HIGH LIFE. 263 

did not, the}' discarded their beaux and decided on not 
going. One lady in particular, who was very gay, I 
usually dressed late, and I went to her at ten o'clock, 
and she began to regret that she had discarded her 
beau, as she could not now go to the party. I told 
her I would take her. She said it was so slippery she 
was afraid to walk, and her coachman was away. 
She had never walked to a party and did not know 
what to do. I told her if she would not fall 1 would 
would not ; and away we both started, in spite of the 
sleet and rain. I never saw such a rainy, sleety even- 
ing in my life, but we got there safely, when I gave 
her up to her friends and beaux, and she enjoyed her- 
self just as much as if she had gone in her carriage. 

I can not refrain from telling you a circumstance 
that occurred with some young ladies, as young 
ladies like their fun as well as those little boys 
I have mentioned enjoyed their sled rides. I 
was crossing the Alleghany mountains, in company 
M'ith some young ladies, their fathers, mothers, broth- 
ers and sisters ; the party was so numerous they had 
chartered a stage. At night we stopped at a house 
on the mountains where travelers usually stopped, and 
this night the house happened to be full. The most 
mischievous of these young ladies was an heiress. 
When the travelers' boots were put outside their doors 
to be cleaned, this young lady changed them. She 
would take a large boot from one door and put 
a small one with it, and so on, all over the house ; 
then she made me get her some dough and she put 
that in the toes of some of the boots. In the morning 
when the horns were blowing for the up and down 
passengers, they would rush out already dressed and 
22 



264 A hair-dresser's experience 

commence pulling on their boots ; then there was a ter- 
rible swearing and pitching, ripping and tearing. 
Of course, such a dignified set as I was with, never 
would be suspected. 

On one occasion I traveled with the same party on 
a canal boat ; when night drew on, this same young 
lady said, "langy, we must have some fun as the peo- 
ple's faces are too long. Two hundred passengers, and 
nothing going on, this will never do." All my readers 
who have traveled on a canal boat know, that only a 
curtain separates the ladies from the gentlemen. The 
berths were generally swinging. The young lady 
having a sharp pen-knife for her own use, secured 
her brother's before he retired, and gave it to me. 
We moved the curtain a little bit, and sawed and cut 
the rope of the upper berth till it was almost cut 
through, A very portly old gentleman took posses- 
sion of the berth, and he had just turned himself 
over, when down he came with a most terrible crash, 
berth and all falling on a very small man, who was 
in the berth below him, and away they rolled into 
the ladies' cabin. 

Most of the ladies there had been asleep; being 
awakened by the noise, they were terribly frightened, 
and screamed dreadfully; this young lady screamed 
as loud or even louder than the rest, as if just awaking ; 
while the little man called out he was killed, and the 
portly old gentleman was trying to make apologies to 
the ladies lor frightening them. 

It was altogether a laughable scene. At last tiie 
ca})tain and chau)bermaid came, and the gentlemen 
rated them soundly for liaving such insecure ropes. 
The captain said, since he had been a captain, there 



IN HIGH LIFE. 265 

had no snch accident occurred before. The whole 
boat was in excitement, and convulsed with laughter, 
I was at one time called on to comb three brides in 
one day, and the peculiarity of it was, they were in 
three distinct circles. One was of the higher order, 
the other in the gay second circle, and the third was 
the daughter of a mechanic. Should I be asked which 
of these I admired the most, first, second or third, I 
could hardly tell. The first was plainly, but elegantly 
attired, she lives in a princely mansion, and the guests 
were those I have been in the habit of working for, 
and been with since I have been in tiie city. The sec- 
ond was very gay, everything elaborate, the company 
quite gay, some very refined, some not so much so; 
I found persons there of every order. When I came 
to my third little bride, I found her very plain, but 
very intelligent. The house was plain, but was very 
neatly furnished ; the front room, where she was mar- 
ried, was carpeted with a very neat three-ply carpet, 
on the walls hung the family pictures, and on the cen- 
ter table were books of all kinds, by which any one 
would know our little bride had applied herself well 
to her studies — and there was also, in the parlor, a 
piano, with some very choice and diflficult pieces of 
music. In the next room, which was their dining- 
room, was a very neat home-made carpet and every- 
thing else was neat and nice. I went on to the kitchen ; 
the tins on the wall looked like silver, and the floor 
was as white as a floor could be made. I did not 
know there could be so clean a house as that, in our 
smoky town. Though this lady was raised in this 
little spot, she now lives in a three story brick of her 



266 A hairdresser's experience 

own ; and instead of remaining in one position, she is 
always going higher. 

The following week I was called on to go seven 
miles above Covington Ky., to comb a bride there. 
When 1 was sent for I had a previous engagement, 
but promised, if they could bring me home again by 
seven in the evening, I would go. So when they sent 
a carriage and fast horses, I went ; and I must 
confess, I was a good deal disappointed, for I expected 
to find it about such a place as I once went to about 
eleven miles above Covington. 

Some few years ago some ladies called on me in a 
very elegant carriage, engaged me to go there and 
comb and shampoo their heads. On my arriving at 
the place, I found the grounds and the house itself in 
a sad, reckless state; the grounds seemed as if at one 
time there might have been a fence around them, as 
there was here and there a picket, while in the house 
there were bare floors. Silver goblets were scattered 
here and there. At one end of the room was a piano, 
but there were no curtains to the windows. It was al- 
together a peculiar place. From the conversation of 
the ladies, 1 found they had received but a limited 
education. When they engaged me, I thought it 
strange they should give me such a high price merely 
to shampoo their heads, but when I got there, I ibund 
one of them was to be married, and 1 was more than 
astonished to see three such elegant looking ladies, 
and two such elegant gentlemen in so queer a place. 
While the ladies were getting ready for me, I walked 
round a little, and on coming to the dairy, I found 
three or four little boj'S, black and white, with long 
straws poked in through the crevices or holes in the 



IN HIGH LIFE. 267 

walls of the dairy, aud then in the pans of cream and 
milk, busy sncking it. I took a good laugh at them 
and then went on to a kind of old shanty, where I 
heard the noise of fiddles and banjoes. 

In here were several old men laughing and talking 
over the fun they anticipated to have at night. One 
of them said to me, "Lor', child, just you stay over 
here to night and see the fun. I played my banjo at 
the wedding of this child's grandmother and her 
mother, and now I'm gwine to play for herself and 
husband that-is-to-be ; he says he will take me to Ohio 
State and set me free." 

I said, " Uncle, you will be too old ; you won't be 
able to earn your living." His answer was, "Lor', 
child, I will die free, any how." 

While I was talking to the old man, there was a 
scream from the house for uncle Bob, as if the whole 
place was on fire, or some other dreadful occurrence 
had happened ; I started to see what was wrong, when 
I found the little boys, tired of drinking the cream 
through their straws, had turned ofi" the cider barrel, 
which was placed on the porch, and surrounded by 
old fashioned jugs of old Bourbon, and the best 
brandy. The boys not daring to drink so much of 
the cider as they did of the milk, turned it ofl' to see 
the fun, and before they were found out, had the bar- 
rel nearly left empty. I asked one of the little urchins 
what they did it for. He told me they were promised 
they should have all sorts of fun when Ann was mar- 
ried, and he says, sure, that is fun. 

I then went to my work, and promised when I was 
through dressing their hair, I would set the table for 
them. After combing them, I went to get the things 



268 A haiii-dresskr's experience 

in readiness for the table, and found, to my surprise, 
and 1 must say, amusement, that the best and only 
large table-cloth they had, the boys had taken and 
cut up into strips, to tie on the cows' horns, and the 
horses' heads for flags ; so that all the animals about 
the house, were running around with white flags on 
their heads. 

The old woman was crying, and did not know what 
to do, while the old man ran ont in a rage, and caught 
the little white boys by the hair and gave them a good 
pulling; but the little blacks, fr<>m their hair never 
having been combed or attended to, had nothing to 
pull, so they slipped through his fingers and ofi'to the 
orchard, while I got some sheets and sewed them to- 
gether so as to make a table-cloth, and commenced to 
set the table. Before I got through, the parson came : 
so they concluded to get married and send the parson 
away before the frolic began. It was then about six 
o'clock. While the parson was performing the cere- 
mony, to the great surprise of all — as the boys had 
faithfully promised to behave themselves — the door 
was suddenly thrown open, and in rushed a large pig, 
grunting and squealing as only pigs can. The boys 
had pulled out the bristles, and then rubbed the sores 
with brandy — by that means making the creature mad 
with pain ; then they opened the door and, while the 
parson was in the very act of performing the cere- 
mony, they turned him right into the room. For a mo- 
ment every one ran round, trying to get the pig out, 
but could not manage it, and at last they had to let 
him stay there while the parson went on ; but every 
time the parson would begin, the pig would again 
commence squealing. The bride and groom both 



IN HIGH LIFE. 269 

roared and lauo-hed, and even the parson could not 
contain his laughter. As for myself, I have witnessed 
scenes in America, England and France ; but I never 
saw anything, before or since, so ludicrous as was that 
scene. The parson, however, at last succeeded in join- 
ing the happy couple, and after partaking of refresh- 
ments, and, I expect, being well paid too, left. 

After I had finished setting the table, I asked them 
to have me sent home, and they did so. Had 1 not 
received anything, I would have considered myself well 
paid by the scenes I witnessed there ; but on leaving 
I was paid doubly, 1 may say trebly, more than I 
expected. 

It was to such a place as 1 have described I expected 
to go when I consented to comb this other bride ; but 
I was agreeably disappointed when, on reaching the 
place, I found everything in front of the house pass- 
able; the grounds around tiie house were extensive, 
and in pretty good order; the house itself was an 
ordinary-looking building, and had apparently been 
built for many years. The two parlors were neat and 
plain ; they were lighted up in the old style of illu- 
minations — candles, in little sockets, stuck here and 
there. The bride's room was furnished plainly, and, 
though it was in the spring of the year, a bright wood 
fire was burning on the hearth, on the old-fashioned 
iron andirons. Though the house was nothing com- 
pared with those I had been in the habit of visiting, 
it had to me a quaint, cheerful, country look, that 
reconciled me to its want of ornament. The appear- 
ance of the ladies was not in keeping with the house, 
as their dresses were rich and elegant. The bride's 
dress was silk, of the latest style; illusion vail, fast- 



270 A hair-dresser's experience 

ened on with a wreath of orange buds ; her bride- 
maids were dressed in keeping, while her annt had on 
a rich black velvet, with angel's wings of black lace. 
Occasionally were seen two or three slaves moving 
about through the house; tliere being no more, was 
owing to there having ten or twelve ran ofi'from them 
a month or so before, over the bridge erected by a spe- 
cial Providence for them. That season there were two 
or three hundred crossed over on the ice to the land 
of liberty. 

Some few weeks passed, and it was rumored that 
Mrs. Colonel II. was going to give a party; every one 
expecting an invitation, had their dresses ordered be- 
forehand, as all wished to go to her parties on account 
of the elegance wnth which they were conducted. 
Before the invitations were issued, those who were 
doubtful of getting invitations, when they would meet 
me on the street, wuuld ask, "Oh, langy, am I invi- 
ted ?" " Do you know whether I will have an invita- 
tion ?" or, "Oh, how I wish I was going — I would so 
like to be there;" and such like, knowing I generally 
knew the different circles, and who would and who 
would not be invited ; they did not like to ask me to 
try and get them invitations, but, by repeating, "I 
wish I were going; 1 would give anything to go," 
they, as plainly as they could, hinted it to me. I 
have obtained many invitations for ladies to large par- 
ties, where they would not for one instant think of 
asking them had it not been for my request, as I work 
for a great many of those who give large parties, and 
they know I would not ask for any one unless I knew 
them to be ladies, both in manners and principle. 

The hostess at these large parties receives many la- 



IN HIGH LIFE. 271 

dies that are not on visiting terms with her, or that 
she would not even know were she to meet them on 
the street. Many ladies would be entirely forgotten 
but for me, as, many times, at the issuing of invita- 
tions, I have been asked by the hostess, "langy, do 
you know any one 1 have forgotten ?" when I would 
call over some names; it may be all had been forgot- 
ten, but then they received their invitations. I will 
now tell you how I got an invitation for a young lady 
of this city, to the party of one of our grandest places 
in the city. 1 went to the hostess and asked her to do 
me a favor; she inquired what it was. I asked her 
to promise me she would do it ; she said she would if 
possible. I said she could easily. " Well, then," said 
she, "you may consider it done; now, what is it?" 
When she had promised, I knew she would do it, no 
matter what it might be ; so I told her I desired that 
she would extend an invitation to a young lady I knew, 
who was of good family, and in every respect worthy, 
but did not go out much in socie*"y ; and I knew if 
she invited her to her parties, she would then be 
sought after by every one. She said she would do so 
willingly, and she called on the young lady and left 
her an invitation for the ball. On going to comb the 
lady, it was amusing to hear her express herself, and 
wonder about the lady inviting her to her party. She 
said, "Oh, langy, such a lady has called on me, and 
asked me to her party ; I expect it is through Mrs. or 
Mr. So-aud-So" — when I knew I was the person, and 
the only one, but did not commit myself even 
by a look. 

I will now explain a little circumstance that oc- 
curred between a lady and myself; she was a lady, 
23 



272 A HAIR-DRESSEb's EXrERIENCE 

indeed, and I worked for her a number of years; she 
moved in the second circle, but never had got into the 
first. One of the ladies of the first circle was about 
to give a large party, when I went to her and asked if 
she would not give this lady an invitation to the party. 
She gave me the invitation, which I carried myself 
and left at the door, thinking she would be happy and 
proud of the honor — but, of course, thinking she 
would know too much of the etiquette of good society 
to go when the hostess had not visited her personally 
before the party ; but she did go, and seemed to enjoy 
herself very much. After combing her, a few weeks 
after, I saw a great change in her; she had given up 
talking of her own circle, and her whole talk was of the 
ladies of the upper circle — Mrs. So-and-So that she 
had so recently met. By much dashing and elegance, 
she at last got on intimate terms with a lady who had 
not been very long in the circle herself, and who was 
no friend of mine. She quite poisoned the mind of 
this lady against me, though I was the first one who 
ever got her into the position she then occupied. 
I promised to give you a little description of Mrs. 

H 's grand ball — and a grand affair it was. Her 

house is a large double one, with a very large hall ; on 
one side of this hall is a large double parlor, which 
has window-hangin««;s of crimson and lace, and two 
extensive mirrors, together with mantle ornauicnts and 
pictures, the most beautiful ever imported from foreign 
lands. On the other side is a reception-room, of blue 
and gold ; her dining-room is purple and gold ; these 
two rooms are hung with very appropriate pictures ; 
there is a jiainting of the Empress there, and of many 
of the old Kings and (iueens, together with many pic- 



IN niGH LIFE. 273 

tiires of royal families. On the second floor were five 
elegant rooms thrown open — a gentleman's smoking- 
room and dressing-room, and two dressing-rooms for 
the ladies ; the fifth was a coflee-room. A great deal 
of beauty and elegance was displayed on that night. 
As for the hostess, she is the most queenly lady in our 
city. Among her guests were several helles. These 
grand entertainments she generally gives once or twice 
a year. 

I will now give you a description of a calico ball, 
which was given a few winters ago by one of our first 
ladies. 1 had often heard of calico balls, but was never 
fortunate enough to be at one before. It created quite 
an excitement through the city ; those who were 
going were in a state of excitement about what they 
would wear, and those who were not were continually 
talking about what tliey would have worn if they had 
been invited. The hostess wore a dark chintz, very 
plain and neat ; her sister-in-law wore a rich colored 
chintz, with a very long train, its figures representing 
clusters of roses ; it resembled a very old fashioned 
brocade ; her costume altogether was after the old 

style of Madame Pompadour. Mrs. wore a dress 

with delicate blue stripes, made with all the simplic- 
ity of a school girl. Mrs. Colonel H s dress very 

nmch resembled that of the hostess's sister; her coif- 
fure was of the old style of Madame Pompadour. 
Many of the dresses at a little distance, looked like 
the most elegant brocade. One lady, a Miss R. wore 
a corn colored dress, her head-dress and bosom piece 
were composed of pop-corn. Among the rest was a 
party of ladies who all wore bright crimson dresses. 
Mrs. P 's dress was a plain, red oil calico, with 



274 A hair-dkesser's experience 

black side stripes ; she is well known as the authoress 
of "Belle Smith Abroad." The most beautiful scene 
of the evening was a quadrille, danced by four ladies, 

dressed in the style of the olden times. Mrs F 's 

train was held by her nephew while she glided through 
the dance. The whole house was thrown open and I 
assure you every one enjoyed themselves very much. 
There came to my house one day, a very nice look- 
ing gentleman, who told me he wanted to engage me 
to go to a lady's house to comb her for her marriage. 
I agreed to go in the evening. To my surprise, while 
1 was engaged with the lady, the gentleman who had 
come for me came into the room and gave orders about 
the dressing of his sister's hair, and also the bride's. 
I found he was the groom, and that not only had he 
given orders about the dressing of her hair, but had 
ordered her dress altogether ; it was a heavy brocaded 
tan colored silk with a long vail of illusion, with a 
wreath of choice flowers. There were several chil- 
dren about the house, who made a great deal of noise, 
crying and yelling. The lady was very uneasy and 
restless in her movements, and apparently much an- 
noyed, but I could not tell the reason until she was 
dressed and the guests were beginning to arrive ; when 
I found she feared the children's guardian would in- 
terfere with her marriage. As there was no one there 
to receive the company the groom came up and wished 
her to go down and receive the company, saying that 
when the clergyman came she could come up stairs 
again; put on her vail, go down and be married; but 
I advised her to do no such thing; to let the guests 
receive themselves. It certainly was amusing to see 
the groom introduce liis couij-iany, clergyman and all, 



IN HIGH LIFE, 275 

to tho bride. Just as the lady was going down 
stairs to be married, a servant rushed up and said that 
her guardian was there. For a moment she appeared 
quite alarmed to hear of his arrival. She trembled, 
and the color forsook her cheeks ; but soon recovering 
herself, she said, ^'He will not dare say anything to 
me, and if he does I will pay no attention to him." 
She went down and when they were pronounced man 
and wife the groom was perfectly delighted, as all 
New England men are when they think they have 
made a good "■ spec." 

The house was very handsome and was beautifully 
furnished ; it reminded me of the palace of beauty 
an<l the beast ; the palace was perfectly elegant, all 
it wanted was beauty to grace it. 

I remember hearing of a wedding which, although 
it did not take place in Cincinnati, will be recollected 
by many here. While in Saratoga I was combing a 
lady who remarked to me, "I have a school acquaint- 
ance who is going to be married to a gentleman from 
the neighborliood of 3'our city. Her mother was at 
first very much opposed to the marriage but is now 
somewhat reconciled to it." She mentioned his name. 
1 told her '' I had heard of such a gentleman, but did 
not know him, as he did not visit in the circle that I 
worked for." She laughed and told me the circum- 
stances. 

" He courted the young lady in the Queen City, and 
determined on following her home and asking her 
mother for her. The old lady did not like this gentle- 
man, and her daughter being already engaged to a 
gentleman, though not so wealthy as this one profes- 
sed to be, decided on opposing the match ; but the young 



276 A iiair-deesser's expekience 

western gentleman, before he went, bought a thousand 
dollar carriage and a pair of fine horses and drove up 
to the house in style. The old lady looked out of her 
window and seeing the tine carriage, while he was 
alighting and coming in, changed her mind and said, 
'Yes.' 1 am acquainted with the young gentleman 
who, it was rumored, the young lady was engaged to; 
and he and his family were very much grieved at his 
disappointment. They are to be married in a short 
time, when her mother is to give up her boarding 
house and all go to the west to live and dash about in 
great style. I think some of coming to your Queen 
City to see the wealthy beaux, and try to get a fortune 
for myself." 

The eastern ladies think there is a great deal of 
wealth out west and they wish to come and take part. 
I oiten laugh at them when they come to Cincinnati, 
as after dashing around a little they find the peojjle 
are not so green, nor are wealthy husbands so easily 
picked up as they think for. I have often seen ladies 
from New York, who moved in apreety good circle at 
home, struck with peifect astonishment on entering 
some of our parlors here. It amused me, during the 
railroad convention here, to observe some of the ladies 
wfio had invitations to the parties of our best families. 
On their entering the parlors they could not suppress 
their astonishment at the elegance of the surroundings, 
but so plainly showed their amazement that both hos- 
tess and guests saw it plainly. One lady, in particu- 
lar, I combed in the Burnet House, and advised iier to 
have an elegant head-dress, as I told her she would 
see some elegant ladies where she was going. She 
laughed at me, and said if she was in New York she 



IN HIGH LIFE. 277 

would, but did uot think it worth while to take so 
much trouble I'or a party in Cincinnati, 

The next day on my g'oini:,' to comb her she was very 
much mortified, and told me it' she had known the 
Cincinnati ladies dressed so well, she would have bought 
the head-dress; however, she said, if there were more 
handsomely dressed ladies at the party, there was no 
one there any prettier than herself. I told her she did 
not see our prettiest ladies, for some of them are in 
mourning, and the others are out of town. 

While I was combing her, two ladies came to visit 
her, from the west end, that I was not in the habit of 
combing. One of these ladies who knew me only by 
reputation, had heard of my ibrmer name, but not my 
marriage name, so after watching me comb the lady, 
she said, "I like your combing very much; 1 do not 
like langy, though I have never seen her, they say she 
is so cross and proud: but I think you and I would 
get along, will you comb me V and she gave me her 
name and number. 1 readily consented to go, more 
Irom curiosity than profit. The first day I went, she 
talked very hard of langy, and after I had combed 
her, she engaged me for a week. I did not care much 
to go, as I did not work in that part of the city more 
than twice a week, but as I said before, I went out of 
curlosit}'. During my combing her, she said, ''I 
would like to have langy comb me once or twice. 
Some think she is a good hair-dresser, and others 
again don't like her, but I am sure she can not comb 
any better than you can, for I have had my hair 
combed, north and south, but have never had it put 
up bettw than by you; moreover, they say langy 
char'' 00 high a price, I don't know why she 



278 A hair-dressek's experience 

should." "Madam," I replied, "I suppose langj 
has combed so long, that now she is getting old, and 
has a certain price ; those who will give her this price 
she combs for, and those who will not, she won't 
comb." 

" But that need not make her so cross, or so hate- 
ful as they say she is." 

" Madam, hair-dressers have a great deal more to 
contend with than ladies know anything about. All 
ladies are not alike, any more than working people, 
they should be more charitable toward langy, tor she 
has been with them all her life, and like a child with 
its nurse, she has imbibed something of their dispo- 
sition." 

"I would like to see langy," said the lady, "and as 
I intend giving a party for children next week, 1 will 
send for her to .come and take charge of the little 
ones." 

"I don't think she will come," said I, for she will 
not have herself annoyed by them." 

The lady then said she would try the next day, as 
she had a particular friend whom langy had been 
combing for some time, '' and," slie continued, "this 
friend and two or three others, are coming to-morrow 
to see you comb. 1 have said so much about your 
combing, that this lady says she would like to see one 
■who can be compared with langy." 

I went home feeling a little annoyed that I had de- 
ceived the lady two weeks, combing her merely to 
gratify my curiosity to find out what she had to say 
about langy. On the following morning, 1 got 
through my work as soon as possible, and went to 
ray friends in the West End to see those ladies that 



IN HIGH LIFE. 270 

laugy combed. I got there before they did, and found 
a neighboring lady there with her. She sat befare the 
glass while I was combing her, and hearing a slight 
noise at the door, I glanced in the mirror, and saw 
somebody peeping in, then the door was shut, and 1 
heard their foot steps going down stairs. In a few 
moments the servant came up and requested her to go 
down to the parlor, as there was a lady there who 
wanted to see her. 

She excused herself to me and went. After a little, 
she came np again ; she was perfectly colorless, and 
evidently out of humor. After sitting down and try- 
ing to compose herself, she said, " Why, you are 
langy. What is the reason you deceived me so?" I 
told her, "Madam, the reason 1 did so, was because I 
found yon inclined to speak harshly of one you had 
never seen, but only knew from the report of others." 

At this moment two ladies came up stairs that I 
knew, and after asking me, laughingly, what game I 
had been playing with their friend, commenced talk- 
ing about different persons. At last mentioning a 
certain lady's name, they asked if I combed her, 1 told 
them no, 1 did not, as I combed none but ladies. They 
then wanted to know what I thought constituted a lady. 
Laying down my work, I rose to my feet and said, 
" Ladies, I can not tell you what I think constitutes a 
lady, and keep my seat. 1 must get up. I do not 
think all those are ladies who sit in high places, or those 
who drive round in line carriages, but those only are 
worthy the name who can trace back their generations 
without stain, honest and respectable, that love and 
fear God, and treat all creatures as tliey merit, regard- 
less of nations, stations or wealth. These are what I 



280 A hair-dkesseb's experience 

say constitute a lady, not tliose who would move out 
of one neighborhood into another tor the sake of so- 
ciety, crowding into high circles, making themselves 
the veriest toadies for the sake of society; they merely 
put themselves out of society trying to get into it, 
fur their old friends will have nothing to do with them, 
and the new circle tiiey try to get into are disgusted 
with them. 1 do not call those ladies who drive 
around, call on ladies, and invite them to their parties 
without knowing them. I have frequently been asked 
who is such-and-such a lady, as I have been invited to 
a party to her house." 

I saw the ladies were getting very uneasy and rest- 
less under my sarcastic remarks, and one of them, a 
lady I had worked for for some years, I thought a 
great deal of, now said, "langy, you are too much 
excited, you don't know what you are saying." I re- 
marked to her, "Excuse me, madam, I do know what 
I am saying, and want you all to hear me — you ail 
laid a plan to come here to-day and have some fun, 
and I am determined you shall have enough of it; if 
you want fun, I will furnish the material. I will now 
tell you of some ladies — I will not name them as you 
know who I mean — who left the neighborhood in 
which they were residing, and went to another, for the 
purpose of getting into a higher circle, but tliey failed, 
and then left there and then went to still another, 
and are now in the neighborhood of the highest circle 
in our city, and I think they will remain there till they 
exhaust their means, before they get an entree to the 
higher circle. 

'•Now you know my principles and my feelings, 
and know what I call a lady. 1 do not appreciate 



IN niGH LIFE. 281 

those ladies who employ me simply because other la- 
dies employ me. I like to work for a lady who puts 
confidence in me, and treats me accordingly as I merit. 
I have had ladies come to me and give me double 
price, not because they had any respect for me, but 
merely to have it to say they had langy to dress their 
heads, who dressed the hair of Mrs. So-and-So. 

"There are numbers of ladies you must flatter all 
the time you are dressing them, by saying they are 
much handsomer than others; or, if they happen not 
to be in the higher circle, you must make out as if 
you thought they were, as their chief talk is their ac- 
quaintance witii Mrs. So-and-So; but I can not do 
that, for I can not flatter anybody ; 1 would sooner die 
than do so. 1 have known ladies who, having wealth 
and a reasonable position in society, were so anxious 
to get into a circle they considered a little higher than 
that they occupied, they would crouch and bend, wire 
in and out, to get in, and often would go to people 
they had no acquaintance or business with, and tell 
them something they had heard, for the purpose of 
speaking to them, 

"AflViirs in our Queen City are not managed as tliey 
used to be ; for I remember the time when a lady 
would never for a moment think of speaking dispar- 
agingly of another in any way; but now the ladies 
have got a habit of talking about others to make them- 
selves grand ; they pick to pieces and talk about every 
lady they know ; some will talk to their hair-dresser, 
and some to their milliner or dressmaker, about Mrs. 
or ]Miss This-or-That, and pick her to pieces. There 
can not the slightest thing occur among a certain set, 
eitlier in their own family or among otliers, but who- 



282 A nAIK-DRESSEK's EXrERIENCE 

ever works for tlieni must know — more particularly 
their hair-dresser ; but there is a certain set above all 
such things, and 1 am happy to say I work for those 
in that set; and there are no tell-tales or slanderers 
there — no talk of what is said or done here or there; 
each one has something agreeable or pleasant to say. 
Now, ladies, I think I have said enough to let you 
know my o])inion, and as I have other engagements 
to fulfill, I will bid you good morning," and I left. 

One Sunday, as I was returning from church to my 
own home, a gentleman passed by in a carriage. I 
did not see him ; but the next day, on going to my 
work, I met him; he stopped me and said, " Ian gy, 
you dress too fine." I did not know what he meant, 
till lie continued, "Your patrons will treat you as 
mine did me. One gentleman I had been in the habit 
of furnishing goods to, came to me and told me I lived 
in a finer house, dressed better, and drove a finer car- 
riage than he did, and he was going to take his cus- 
tom from me and give it to some person that was not 
so well off. I told him he might, and be blessed. 
So, langy, if you are not careful, your patrons will 
treat you in the same way." 

I told him I worked for my patrons for their money, 
and when I earned and got it, I did not ask them how 
I should spend it, or anything else connected with it, 
what I should eat, drink or wear, or how I should dis- 
pose of my money. It remains a mystery to me, to 
this day, why he spoke to me in that manner; for he 
is a gentleman I can not accuse of being either envi- 
ous or covetous. 

Among the many strange occurrences of that time, 
I will tell one of a young gentleman of our city, who 



IN HIGH LIFE. 283 

was boarding at one of the fashionable hotels. The 
ladies who were boarding at the same hotel, thinking 
he had plenty of money, were continually insisting on 
his giving them a party. After some time, he con- 
sented, when the invitations were issued, not only to 
those ladies who were at the hotel, but to many in the 
city and some from Newport. He then told the ladies 
his arrangements were made for a certain day. Music 
and supper were ordered. He went to the head waiter 
and arranged with him to have all the servants that 
waited on the table, put on white aprons, standing- 
collars, and the little fashionable cravat; also, that 
every dish on the table should be covered, and to have 
the covers all as bright as silver. 

The evening came on. The ladies and gentlemen 
were seated in the parlor, waiting for the supposed 
Menter's Band, when in walked a tall, thin, colored 
man, with a fiddle, and commenced playing: the only 
tunes he could give them the whole evening were, 
"Auld Lang Syne" and "The Campbell's are Com- 
ing." The guests were very much disappointed, but 
in anticipation of a good supper they said nothing. 
After a merry dance, they were invited down to the 
supper-room, where they were all delighted with the 
appearance of things, A long table was set out; the 
waiters, with their white aprons and fashionable cra- 
vats, looked very neat, and the covers of the dishes 
glittered like burnished silver. After they were all 
seated in order, the covers were removed with as much 
ceremony as if the dishes contained all the luxuries 
and delicacies that could be procured : when, lo ! there 
was nothing in them but crackers and cheese! 

The gentleman arose and said : "Ladies and gen- 



284 A hair-dresser's experience 

tlemen, I know yon did not come here to get a good 
supper — all you wished was to see me, to meet each 
other and enjoy yourselves," The guests did not know 
whether to get angry or to laugh it ofi". The proprie- 
tor of the hotel was quite provoked, as he had several 
daughters, and many of the guests were their inti- 
mate associates ; so he concluded to make amends for 
their disappointment, and a few nights after, he gave 
them a fine party. 

The ladies were still determined to make this young 
gentleman spend some of his money : so tliey com- 
menced to tease him for a carriage ride. lie agreed 
to do so, and went to one of our livery stables and or- 
dered the oldest carriage they had ; he wanted it 
strong, but did not care for looks. lie secured the 
carriage, and drove up to the door. When the ladies 
came down they looked at the carriage, and hesitated, 
but, not wishing to ofiend him, they thought it best to 
get in. He had told the coachman to drive through 
the principal streets in the city, which he did; and 
their acquaintances who saw them riding in that queer- 
looking old vehicle, could not help laughing, which 
greatly mortified the j'oung ladies, who concluded 
they could not make anything out of the gentleman, 
and gave it up in despair. 

I will turn from these incidents to give you some of 
a more serious character. A slave, who had escaped 
from bondage, went to Canada, where, in a few years, 
he acquired some means. Being pretty comfortably 
situated, he was anxious to have his wife and children 
with him, and he engaged a white man to go for 
them. The latter found them, and, with his assist- 
ance, they succeeded in making their escape, and had 



IN man ltfr. 285 

proceeded some distance on tla-ir way to Canada, 
when tliej stopped for the niglit at tlie lionse of a 
preacher of the gospel. They were, seemingly, w^ell 
received by him, and the next morning they went on 
their way. I have heard it asserted that this man be- 
trayed them. Whether this be true or not, on their 
leaving his house in tiie morning they were so clos(-ly 
pursued by their owner, that the man had to fly to t!ie 
woods, leaving the woman and children in the buggy. 
The master took possession of the woman and children, 
got in tlie buggy and speedily drove to the Ohio i-ivcr, 
where he could easily cross over to Kentucky. While 
crossing, the woman, preferring death rather than 
shivery, jumped overboard into the river; it was with 
veiT great difficulty they rescued her from a watei'y 
grave. ■ ■ 

After traveling a short time they reached Louisville, 
where he placed her in the jail, stripped her of every 
piece of her clothing, and whipped her till the blood 
ran from her neck to her heels. This he did more 
than Once, in a jail where there were men, w-omen 
and children, till at length 9, trader, who had numer- 
ous slaves in this jail, waiting for a boat to take them 
to New Orlrans, put a stop to it. He had so much 
conscience left him he could not stand and see a wo- 
man whipped before so many men. Her master re- 
moved her from the jail to the work-house; the people 
belonging to the work-house thought she was a white 
w^oman, till he told them she was a slave. When 
they found out what she was, and saw the stripes on her 
back, they threatened if he came there to whip her, 
they would make a complaint to the civil authorities. 

Many persons wished to buy her but he would not 



286 A iiair-dresser's experience 

sell her lest she should fall into good hands, and it 
might be see her children again. He sent her dowu 
to Louisiana and had her put in the fields, where she 
would never see her children or liear from them again. 
After she had been there some six months she grave 
birth to a ciiild, and in three weeks after her mistress 
also gave birth to a child and died. She was then 
taken in the house to nurse her master's child. Find- 
ing her quite superior to what she was represented to 
be, and the child being devoted to her, he concluded 
to take her and his child to New York. When he ar- 
rived there he emancipated her and her child, and then 
gave her her choice to go to Canada or return with 
him. She preferred going back, hoping to see her 
"fchildren in passing through Louisville. She did get 
to see them, and then went back to Louisiana and 
staid with her master for some years till his child 
was old enough to go to school, when he took his 
child, this woman and her child and brought them 
himself to Canada. He gave her up to her husband, 
and kept his child at school in Toronto, so as to be 
near her that she could S(^e to his welfare. "Did this 
man who treated her so cruelly have children ?" " Yes, 
he had a numerous family, both sons and daughters, 
and 1 forbear calling his name at present on account 
of them." 

There are few people can imagine the difierence in 
society, in dress, in manner, appearance, and in fact 
everything in our Queen City in ten years. In 1850, 
there was a ball at the opening of the Burnet House. 
All our best citizens, church members, and our upper 
classes attended. There were two full bands of music 
and such a supper, I suppose, was never iu a hotel, 



IN HIGH LIFE. 287 

since all the old pioneers were there from all the sur- 
rounding cities and villages ; Kentucky was well rep- 
resented. Though the grandest affliir that had been 
in Cincinnati, there was no dress there that exceeded 
in cost five hundred dollars, with the exception of Mrs. 
C, who wore diamonds valued at ten thousand dollars. 
Since that time there has been a gradual increase of 
elegance until the opening ball of the Opera House, 
where there were more elegant dresses than had ever 
before been seen in Cincinnati. For the ball at the 
opening of the Opera House, like that at the Burnet 
House, I commenced dressing at seven in the morning 
and dressed till half past eleven at night. In that 
time I dressed twenty-seven ladies, and refused thirty- 
eight, not being able to attend them. I will now give 
you a description of a few of the dresses of those ladies 
who passed under my hands. One wore a gold col- 
ored silk, of unusual briliance, the skirt was plain and 
exceedingly full, with a train of half a yard, but suf- 
ficiently short in front to expose an exquisitely formed 
foot, encased in a silk gaiter, the precise shade of the 
dress ; white point lace with bufi* crape pleatings 
formed the trimming for the drooping angel sleeves 
which were gracefully confined at the shoulder by a 
silk cord and tassel, dis|)laying an elegant point lace 
undersleeve corresponding with the trimming of the 
neck, which was a la Pompadour, and long tassels 
which drooped gracefully upon the skirt from the waist 
and confined with white and scarlet ostrich feathers ; 
the hair was arranged with ostrich feathers to match 
those of the houquet de corsage^ and corresponded with 
the statuesque appearance of the lady, which any 
qneen might envy. Her opera cloak, which was oc- 
24 



288 A nAIE-DRESSER's EXPERIENCE 

casionally worn on her arm, was composed of white 
cashmere and trimmed with red ermine. Another 
dress that attracted unusual attention, was a lavender 
silk double skirt, richly brocaded with silver snow 
drops, drooping in clusters upon each breadth of the 
upper skirt, (the under skirt being entirely plain,) the 
waist was high to the throat, with point d' Alencou 
lace collar, and sleeves trimmed with pink ribbon, en- 
veloped in white tulle ; pink ostrich feathers orna- 
mented the hair ; diamonds of rare brilliance were ad- 
ded to complete the toilet. Another lady wore a mag- 
nificent garnet velvet, made high in the throat, with 
tigiit sleeves to the wrist ; white drooping feathers in 
her hair and diamonds in such profusion that they 
were estimated to have cost nearly twenty thousand 
dollars. Many other dresses I observed as magnifi- 
cent as those I have described, but it is useless to 
enumerate them.; almost all of the ladies had op- 
era cloaks to match their dresses. A week or two 
after the great ball it was announced that the opera 
would commence, and then came another rush as great 
as for the ball, andl was as much occupied and amused 
combing for the one as for the other. 

Notwithstanding a great many church members 
went to the ball, and could sit in the boxes till supper, 
then return to them again, they would not go to the 
opera, as there was a great green curtain to hoist up 
and down, which seemed to frighten many of them. 
This fear was not with all our first ladies, for large 
numbers of them did not go to either ball or opera on 
account of sickness or death in their families. I 
combed a great many ladies every day for two weeks, 
who did not profess to be in our first class circle, but 



IN HIGH LIFE. 289 

I certainly found them possessing all the beauty and 
elegance any circle might require. 

1 went one day to comb a young lady in the house 
of her aunt. The aunt was terribly opposed to the 
opera and opera house and spoke very hard of the ball, 
but the young lady's father approved of the opera and 
ball too and took her to both. While I was combing 
the young lady the aunt came into the room, in a per- 
fect rage with iier cook, and said she would discharge 
her and prevent her getting another place, as she 
would not give her a recommendation. The young 
lady said : " Aunt you should give her a recommen- 
dation, for she is an elegant cook." She said she 
would not do it if she was to starve. 

When the aunt left the room I asked the young 
lady if she did not think it much worse in her aunt to 
treat that poor woman, who has to work for a living, 
in that manner than to'go to the opera. She replied, 
"Aunt has a very high temper, and when she is angry 
she says a great deal more than she means ; she is 
very different from Papa — he looks very stern, but is 
very gentle, and thinks a long time before he speaks." 

Then 1 told her I would rather work for ladies who 
will speak out what they have to say than for tiiose 
mild, gentle ladies who can scarcely speak while in 
company. I had met many such ladies in my life- 
time, one in particular, in this city, who, iust by acci- 
dent, drives her carriage through the lowv^' parts of 
the city where lovers often walk, and occasionally slie 
sees horses and buggies hitched where tliey should not 
be. These things come out and many people are in- 
jured by such reports and no trace can be followed 
up of where they originated. 



290 A hair-dresser's experience 

While we were talking, her aunt came in and asked 
me to comb her the next night, for the concert. I told 
her I hoped she would excuse me, but I had made a 
vow I would not comb any one for the concert who 
was too sanctimonious to go to the opera ; that I would 
be pleased to comb her at any other time, but she must 
excuse me now. She wished to know if I positively 
refused to comb her; and when I told her I did, she 
said if I did not comb her, I should not comb her 
niece. I told her there were plenty of other hair-dress- 
ers, but she was so provoked, she went off and bought 
her a splendid bonnet to wear to the concert. 

On my leaving, I told the young lady I was not 
coming back, so she said, if I did not go to her, she 
would come to me, so it would be all the same. On 
my reaching home, 1 found various orders for the next 
day for the concert. On going to the places, I would 
always ask if they were going to the opera; if they 
said no, I just walked out. 

There were four ladies in one house where I called, 
two of them were very much in favor of the opera, 
while the others were opposed to it; before laying 
ofi' my things, I asked the usual question, and the 
two replied they had been to the ball, and intended 
going to the opera, but had not yet been there. 1 said 
1 would comb them. The others asked me, "and why 
will you not comb us." I told them 1 was actually 
afraid to comb any one that was so good that the sight 
of a green curtain frightened them, for sucli good peo- 
ple were unusual." They then wished to know what 
was my object in taking such a stand, whether I was 
over religious, or had no respect for Christianity at 
all. My reply was, " I have respect for religion, and 



IN HIGH LIFE. 291 

for all denominations, and I try to do right to all crea- 
tures as far as I can. I have not forgotten when 
Caraille was first played in this city, how some ladies 
blushed even at calling the name of Camille in their 
own parlors, and others said they would not go to the 
theater while Camille was played, and at the same time 
disguised themselves and went to see the plays. — 
Which did the greater evil, those who went openly 
and above board, or those who went in disguise? I 
leave that with you to judge. There were several 
ladies boarding at the Burnet House, who vowed and 
declared they would not go to see Camille, and by their 
remarks gave great offense to other ladies. Yet one 
of those very ladies was so anxious to see the play, 
she actually went to the theater disguised. Some of 
those self same ladies who w'ould not go to see Camille, 
now go to the opera to see the play of Traviata; they 
ease their conscience by saying the music is so elegant. 
If it was such a sin to look on Camille, I do not think 
the music sufficient atonement. 

I remember one evening in 1857 walking behind 
several gentlemen. The topic of conversation was 
the Opera House, some thought it would not be built ; 
it would cost too much money; others seemed to think 
Cincinnati could not sustain such a place; some 
laughed at the very idea of it. There were five of 
them, and but one of the number was in favor of the 
house. The other four seemed to be very bitter in 
their remarks. It is really laughable to think I have 
combed the wife of one of the gentlemen wlio were so 
bitter against the opera, four nights out of the six, du- 
ring the time the first troupe was in Cincinnati. 

The building of the Opera House, gave employment 



292 A HAIR- dresser's experience 

to a great many men for a length of time, and when 
finished, every kind of makers had employment; dress 
makers, cap makers and cloak makers, and the dry 
goods merchant realized his profits in the increased de- 
mands for silks, satins, velvets, feathers, and flowers, 
and rich laces of every kind and texture. 

1 have combed many ladies for tlie opera who are 
christians, not only in profession, but in reality, and 
are as good ladies as ever belonged to any church. 
They did not think it any sin to go to the opera, or 
they would not have gone. Tliese take conscience for 
their guide, they don't move with the mass for excite- 
ment; they go to please the eye and gratify the sense, 
and their conscience does not condemn them. Ladies, 
■when in New Orleans, attend the opera, but while 
here, they condemn it. But, indeed, 1 don't wonder 
at their wishing to go in New Orleans, as it is a most 
beautiful sight to see the ladies at the opera there, to 
say nothing of the most enchanting music. The young 
ladies all dress in white, while tlie married ladies go 
in full ball costume. All have the most beautiful 
boquets. In the New Orleans opera house from the 
parquette to the highest tier, which is appointed 
to slaves, every one has a boquet, and the whole 
house is filled with the odor of flowers. There are 
boxes appointed to the beautilul quadroons, which 
New Orleans is famous for, and they are considered 
among the most beautiful women in the world. 

In New Orleans all go to the opera, and to concerts 
to hear the music, and pay so much respect to both 
performers and audience, as to keep still and lady-like, 
during the performance. 

Every city lias its own mode of putting down those 



IN HIGH LIFE. 293 

they tliink are getting along too fast, I will give you 
an instance. One morning I was going very early to 
comb a lady for lier marriage, who was going ofi' on 
the early train, and on passing along the street I saw 
hanging on the knob of a lady's door, an old dress, 
M'ith needles, thimble, spools of cotton, scissors and 
everything belonging to a di-ess-maker. I made in- 
quiry a few days after and heard it was done by a 
neighbor, who thought the lady had forgotten her 
mother's occupation, so that she might be reminded 
from what she had sprung. Then again there will be 
left at doors old shoes, old hats, cloaks, nails, pieces 
of iron and everything to remind those who are getting 
high in the world from what they sprung. In New 
Orleans I have known ladies go to mask balls and, 
under cover of their dominoes, say very disagreeable 
things, then fly home, change their dress and come 
back, leaving those they said the disagreeable things 
to, very unhappy. In some cities they write anony- 
mous letters, saying in them all kinds of bitter things. 
I was stopping with a lady once in Louisville, who got 
one of these anonymous letters, and it caused her great 
uneasiness, but I am sure the writer felt more uneasi- 
ness for doing such a mean action than the lady who 
received it. I have seen many actions and deeds of 
this kind done by those who are in high life. 

The 0]>era continued a whole month every night, 
except Sunda}', I am sure there must have been sat- 
isfaction given to all. The musical portion were sat- 
isfied with the music ; others who did not care for the 
music went to show offtiieir own elegance and see the 
elegance of others, and some went to see who went 



294 A iiair-uresser's experience 

with Mrs. So and-so, and to observe things generally, 
so all were satisfied! 

I was amused to hear ladies say, "I am not going 
to-night, but am going to-morrow night, when there 
will be a crowd," as if they went to see the crowd and 
not to hear the music. Those who did not care for 
the music were the very ones who wanted some of the 
scenes cut off. One day I was combing some ladies 
and heard them rail at the dancing in one of the 
scenes of Robert Le Diable. These same ladies I have 
frequently dressed to go with their whule families to 
see the Ravels. I said, "Ladies, have you not gone 
yourselves and taken your whole families to see the 
Ravels?" They said, "Yes, but the Ravels were the 
Ravels, but we do not want dancing in the opera, that 
piece must come out, see if we don't have that part cut 
off." I laughed, and said to them, " I have never be- 
fore heard of any one having an opera altered to suit 
themselves, but I will tell you one thing you can do, 
and ought to do, and that is, prevent little misses and 
masters from examining the different plots. I myself, 
the other day, saw some little ladies and gentlemen 
very busy in examining the plot of Don Juan, and I 
do think that is a little. too far to go. I don't object 
to little people seeing the play and hearing the music, 
but I do think they should be prevented from examin- 
ing such plots ; that is, in my opinion, much worse 
than the dancing, and I do think in place of trying to 
raise a fuss, those who attend the opera should be per- 
fectly satisfied with having such an elegant house as 
an ornament to our city and should give all praise to 
him through whose energy it was erected." 



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